UC-NRLF 


SB    277    7bO 


AN  r;  ^ 

ELEMENTARY 

INTRODUCTION 

TO  THE  KNOWLEDGE  OF 

MINERALOGY: 

INCLUDING  SOME  ACCOUNT 
or 

MINERAL  ELEMENTS  AND  CONSTITUENTS ; 

EXPLANATIONS    OF  TERMS  IN  COMMON  USE  J 
BRIEF  ACCOUNTS  OF  MINERALS, 

AND  OF  THE  PLACES  AND  CIRCUMSTANCES  IN  WHICH  THEY 
ARE  FOUND. 

DESIGNED    FOR  THE    USE    OP    THE    STUDENT. 

BY  WILLIAM  PHILLIPS, 

MEMBER  OF  THE  GEOLOGICAL  8OC1ETT. 

With  Notes  and  Additions  on  American  Articles, 
BY  SAMUEL  t.  MITCHILL, 

Professor  of  Mineralogy,  Botany  and  Zoology,  in  the  University  of  New-York; 
President  of  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History,  #c. 

Nullwn  est  sine  nomine  saxum. — Lucan. 


PRINTED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  COLLINS  AND  CO- 

No.  189,  PBARL-S*REET. 

1818. 


'•.%•:•:;  ll-:\    "          Pr 


SOUTHERN  DISTRICT  OF  NEW- YORK,  ss. 

BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  Thar  on  the  twenty-eighth  day  of  May, 
in  the  forty-second  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  State*  of 
America,  COLLINS  &  Co.  of  the  said  district,  have  deposited  in  this 
office,  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  they  claim  as  proprietors, 
in  the  words  and  figures  following,  to  wit : 

"  An  Elementary  Introduction  to  the  knowledge  of  Mineralogy  :  in- 
cluding some  account  of  Mineral  Elements  and  Constituents ;  explanations 
of  terms  in  common  use  ;  brief  accounts  of  Minerals,  and  of  the  places  and 
circumstances  in  which  they  are  found.  Designed  for  the  use  of  the  stu- 
dent. By  WILLIAM  PHILLIPS,  Member  of  the  Geological  Society.— 
With  notes  and  additions  on  American  articles,  by  SAMUEL  L.  MITCHILL, 
Professor  of  Mineralogy,  Botany  and  Zoology,  in  the  University  of  New- 
York  ;  President  df  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History,  &c." 
"  Nullum  est  sine  nomire  saxum.— Lucan." 

In  conformity  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  enti- 
tled "  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning  by  securing  the  copies 
of  maps,  charts  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  co- 
pies, during  the  time  therein  mentioned."  And  also  to  an  act,  entitled 
"  An  act,  supplementary  to  an  act,  entitled  an  act  for  the  encouragement 
of  learning,  by  'securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts  and  books,  to  the 
authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  men- 
tioned, and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  en- 
graving and  etching  historical  and  other  prints." 

JAMES  DILL, 
Clerk  of  the  Southern  District  of  New- York, 


'••i- 


PREFACE. 


A  considerable  edition  of  the  little  volume  entitled  an 
•'  Outline  of  Mineralogy  and  Geology'  having  been  near- 
ly, and  very  unexpectedly,  exhausted,  in  the  short  space 
of  a  few  months,  it  became  a  subject  of  consideration, 
whether  it  could  be  so  enlarged  as  to  render  a  second 
edition  more  interesting  and  valuable,  without  greatly 
inn-easing  the  size  and  price  of  the  book.  It  occurred 
to  me,  that  it  might  be  possible  further  to  illustrate  the 
subjects  on  which  it  treats,  by  introducing  some  account 
of  the  more  important  minerals,  with  general  observa- 
tions upon  such  as  should  be  omitted.  But,  vjben  con- 
sjderable  progress  had  been  made,  it  assumed  such  a 
patch-work  character,  that  I  resolved  to  re-publish  the 
*  Outline,'  with  such  alterations  only  as  might  seem  es- 
sential to  be  made  ;  more  especially,  as  partial  descrip- 
tions would  completely  alter  its  character,  without  fully 
answering  the  purpose  of  their  introduction.  Its  object 
will  therefore  be,  as  before,  rather  to  awaken  inquiry, 
than  to  satisfy  it. 

The  attempt  to  improve  it,  however,  served  to  con- 
vince me,  that,  if  descriptions,  of  individual  minerals, 
together  with  some  account  of  the  places  and  circum- 
stances in  which  they  are  commonly  found,  were  collect- 
ed with  tolerable  fidelity,  from  the  best  authorities,  and 
comprized  in  a  small  volume,  it  would  prove  instructive 
to  the  young  mineralogist  ;  more  especially,  if  divested 
of  technical  and  scientific  terms,  as  much  as  the  nature 
of  the  subject  will  allow.  This  feeling  was  an  incite- 
ment to  undertake  the  labour  of  selecting,  which,  at  best, 
is  but  an  humble  occupation. 
A  2 


PREFACE. 


It  next  became  an  object  to  determinate  the  order  in 
which  these  descriptions  should  be  placed  :  and  when  it 
is  considered  that  any  one  of  the  several  arrangements 
tha*  have  already  been  promulgated,  might  have  been 
chosen,  I  can  scarcely  hope  to  escape  censure  for  having 
adopted  one,  that,  in  some  respects,  differs  from  them 
all ;  my  apology  is,  that  not  one  of  them  was  adapted 
to  my  purpose. 

In  the  introduction  to  Aikin's  '  Manual  of  Mineralo- 
gy,' an  attentive  perusal  of  which  I  wish  again  to  recom- 
mend to  the  student,  there  are  some  excellent  remarks 
on  the  prevailing  arrangements  of  minerals.  From  all 
that  has  hitherto  been  done,  it  may  be  argued,  that  the 
very  nature  of  the  substances  comprehended  in  those 
arrangements,  forbids  the  construction  of  any  one  against 
which  many  well-founded  objections  cannot  be  raised  ; 
and  wherein  there  shall  not  be  much  that  is  arbitrary, 
and  consequently,  dependent  one  some  particular  views, 
or  some  favorite  theory.  Hitherto,  no  natural  classifi* 
cation  of  minerals  has  been  discovered  :  either  this 
most  desirable  object  cannot  be  attained,  or  the  science 
is  not  yet  sufficiently  understood  to  allow  of  its  accom- 
pli oh  me nt. 

It  cannot,  however,  be  denied,  on  the  one  hand,  that 
the  science  of  mineralogy  is  greatly  dependent  on  that 
of  chemistry;  nor,  on  the  other,  that  its  acquirement 
should  be  regarded  as  preliminary  to  that  of  geology. — 
Jt  therefore  seemed  indisputable,  that  if  it  were  possible 
to  exhibit  the  science  in  such  a  point  of  view,  as  that  its 
dependence  on  the  one,  and  its  intimate  connexion  with 
the  other,  should  become  apparent,  the  result  would  be 
advantageous  to  the  student. 

With  these  objects  principally  in  view,  peculiar  atten- 
tion has  not  always  been  given  to  the  enumeration  of 
all  the  nicer  characteristics  of  each  mineral,  nor  to  the 
maintaining  of  one  exact  order  of  description.  This  has 
been  done  by  Aikin,  in  his  '  Manual  of  Mineralogy,'  with 
all  the  fidelity  which  a  precise  and  scientific  detail  of 
these  characters  requires.  It  has  rather  been  my  inten- 
tion to  give,  in  familiar  language,  the  more  important 
mineralogical  and  geological  characters  of  each,  so  as 
to  enable  the  student,  by  such  acquaintance  as  he  may 


PREFACE.  V 

thus  familiarly  gain  with  the  objects  of  his  study,  to  con- 
sult with  advantage  the  more  scientific  works  of  abler 
mineralogists.  Consistently  with  this  intention,  expla- 
nations of  about  one  hundred  terms,  commonly  used  in 
mineralogical  description,  are  given  at  the  end  of  the 
Introduction  ;  which  includes  an  enumeration  of  mineral 
elements  and  constituents,  together  with  a  brief  view  of 
their  chemical  characters,  and  remarks  tending  to  shew 
their  mineralogical  and  geological  importance.  The 
order  in  which  the  individual  minerals  have  been  des- 
cribed, and  which  is  exhibited  in  the  Table  of  Contents, 
was  governed  by  an  attention  to  the  same  objects* 

Thus,  siliceous  minerals  are  first  described,  because  it 
is  estimated  that  silex  forms  the  largest  proportion  of  the 
oldest  and  most  abundant  primitive  rocks  :  and  all 
earthy  minerals,  of  which  silex  is  the  largest  ingredient, 
are  ai  ranged  under  that  head  ;  beginning,  chemically, 
with  silex  in  its  purest  form,  and  proceeding  to  such  as 
consist  of  that  and  another  earth,  as  silex  and  alumine, 
then  to  those  consisting  of  silex  and  lime,  &c.  and  after- 
wards, to  such  minerals  as  are  chiefly  constituted  of  three 
or  more  earths,  terminating  with  the  most  compound  ; 
and  regarding  the  iron,  manganese,  &c.  involved  in  ma- 
ny of  them,  only  as  accessary  constituents.  The  other 
earthy  minerals  are  proceeded  with  in  like  manner,  ar- 
bitrarily selecting  such  as  contain  the  rare  earth,  glucine, 
and  placing  them  under  that  head,  except  that  the  Ga- 
dolinite,  which  also  contains  the  still  more  rare  earth, 
Yttria,  is  placed  under  the  latter.  In  regard  to  metal- 
liferous minerals,  the  rules  I  had  prescribed  for  the  or- 
der of  description,  could  riot  always  be  adhered  to  with- 
out involving  some  absurdity  ;  for  instance,  in  the  ore 
called  White  Silver,  that  metal  is  an  ingredient,  accord- 
ing to  one  analysis  by  Klaproth,  in  the  proportion  only 
6f about  2  per  cent. ;  but  it  would  have  bten  altogether 
ridiculous  to  have  placed  a  substance  bearing  the  name 
of  White  Silver,  among  the  ores  of  Lead,  to  which,  ac- 
cording to  the  proportions  of  its  ingredients,  it  properly 
belongs. 

In  order  to  avoid  too  greatly  (he  appearance  of  a 
scientific  work,  every  mineral  has  been  described  only 
the  name  or  names  by  which  it  is  commonly  dis* 


TI  PREFACE, 

tinguished  in  our  own  country.  The  synonyms  may  be 
found  in  Aikin's  '  Manual,'  and  still  more  at  lapge  in  the 
useful £  Mineralogical  Nomenclature'  of  Allan. 

This  compilation,  for  it  includes  but  iittle  that  is  new, 
has  been  selected  from  the  works  of  the  most  expe- 
rienced mineralogists ;  chiefly  from  those  of  Ha'uy, 
Brongniart,  Jameson,  the  Chemical  and  Mineralogical 
Dictionary  of  Aikins,  and  the  Manual  of  Aikin  ;  but,  con- 
sidering the  purpose  of  the  book,  it  seemed  unnecessary 
to  acknowledge  the  numerous  quotations  from  those  and 
Other  works  in  a  more  particular  manner,  by  repeated 
reference  to  their  pages. 

It  is  common  with  the  beginner  to  ask  for  some  means 
by  which  he  may  be  enabled  at  once  to  recognize  any 
mineral  that  may  present  itself  to  his  notice.  To  this 
inquiry,  it  may  be  replied,  that,  without  the  aid  of  study 
and  experience,  no  means  sufficiently  precise  can  be 
hoped  for  in  a  science  which  is  without  a  natural  ar- 
rangement ;  and  which  therefore  is  divested  of  the  cer- 
tainties belonging  to  the  study  of  the  animal  and  vege- 
table kingdoms.  A  studious  comparison  of  their  cha- 
racters, with  the  descriptions  published  in  the  works  of 
mineralogists,  might  possibly  enable  the  student  to  ac- 
complish this  desirable  object.  This  method  is  un- 
doubtedly tedious ;  and  in  most  cases,  the  best  rules 
that  have  been  laid  down,  pre-guppose  certain  previous 
attainments;  but  the  labour  would  be  materially  lessen- 
ed, if  the  individual  specimens  were  well  characterized, 
and  properly  designated.  The  most  effectual  and  ad- 
vantageous method  of  acquiring  a  competent  knowledge 
of  minerals  is  undoubtedly  that  of  personal  instruction. 
The  superiority  which  France  and  Germany  have  ac- 
quired in  mineralogical  science,  is,  doubtless,  in  a  great 
measure,  to  be  attributed  to  the  facility  of  obtaining  in- 
struction, both  public  and  private  ;  of  which  there  was 
an  almost  total  deficiency  in  this  country,  until  very 
lately.  Each  of  our  Universities  has  now  its  professor, 
and  private,  instruction  begins  to  be  attainable.  The 
metropolis  and  its  neighbourhood  are  not  without  ad- 
vantages in  this  respect.  Lectures  are  given  at  the 
Royal  and  Surry  Institutions.  The  time  and  attention 
of  Mis.  Lov\ry,  of  Titchfield  Street,  whose  line  colleo 


PKEFACE.  Vl 

tion  of  minerals,  models,  and  instruments  used  in  the 
mineralogical  and  geological  researches,  cannot  fail,  un- 
der her  instruction,^  of  being  advantageous  to  her  pupils, 
are  occasionally  given  to  this  object :  and  T.  Webster, 
of  Buckingham  Place,  Fitzroy  Square,  who  is  draughts- 
man to  the  Geological  Society,  and  has  the  immediate 
care  of  its  valuable  collection,  and  whose  acquirements 
may  thence  be  estimated,  also  dedicates  a  part  of  his 
time  to  instruction  in  the  sciences  of  mineralogy  and 
geology,  as  well  as  to  the  teaching  of  drawing  ;  a  know- 
ledge of  which  is  intimately  connected  with  those 
sciences,  and  in  the  instruction  of  which  he  has  adopted 
the  most  expeditious  and  advantageous  methods  he  can 
devise. 

Instruction  in  crystallography  is  also  attainable.  N.  J. 
Larkin,  of  Gee  Street,  Sorner's  Town,  who  is  a  teacher 
of  the  mathematics,  is  in  the  habit  of  teaching  their  ap- 
plication to  the  theory  of  crystallization  of  Haiiy.  A 
perfect  knowledge  of  this  most  beautiful  theory  can  only 
be  attained  by  a  correct  statement  of  the  mathematical 
principles  on  which  it  is  founded  ;  nevertheless,  the  the- 
ory is  also  taught  mechanically  by  N.  J  Larkin,  in  a  few 
lessons,  by  the  assistance  of  models.  These  models  cut 
in  box-wood,  may  be  had  of  Bate  in  the  Poultry,  and 
Mawe  in  the  Strand,  at  one  guinea  each,  as  well  as  com- 
plete sets  of  models  of  all  the  crystals  described  by  Baiiy 
in  his  Treatise  on  Mineralogy,  from  eight  pounds  to  six- 
teen pou!  ds  the  set,  according  to  the  kind  of  wood  of 
which  they  are  made  :  they  are  cut  by  N.  J.  Larkin 
with  great  accuracy  and  beauty. 

In  the  descriptions  of  individual  minerals  included  in 
this  volume,  it  was  my  wish  to  have  given  a  somewhat 
detailed  account  of  their  crystalline  forms.  This  I  found 
to  be  impossible,  without  increasing  the  size  of  the  book 
considerably.  As,  however,  I  conceive  that  it  would  mate- 
rially tend  to  facilitate  the  progress  of  the  young  mine- 
ralogist, it  is  my  intention,  at  some  future  time,  to  publish 
a  view  of  the  theory  of  crystallization,  unless  it  shall  be 
accomplished  by  some  abler  hand.  This  view  will  not 
be  illustrated  by  the  application  of  its  mathematical 
principles,  and  will  therefore  be  only  mechanical  ;  but 
it  will  necessarily  be  accompanied  by  numerous  figures, 


fill  PREFACE. 

illustrative  of  the  theory,  and  of  the  transitions  of  crystal- 
line forms. 

It  is  probable  that  some  who  may  look  into  this  vo- 
lume, may  judge  that  if  the  descriptions  had  been  more 
at  length,  more  precise,  and  more  technically  scientific, 
they  would  have  been  more  valuable,  and  consequently 
of  more  general  interest.  Such  as  may  be  induced  to 
pass  this  judgment  upon  it,  are  entreated  to  advert  to 
the  main  purpose  of  the  publication.  But,  the  simplicity 
of  the  design,  and  in  all  probability,  the  manner  in  which 
that  design  is  executed,  will  deter  the  scientific  from 
perusing  a  work  which  is  manifestly  intended  only  fop 
the  beginner — only  as  a  first  step  for  the  student — and 
which,  in  reality,  has  little  claim  to  the  notice  of  the 
mineralogist. 

W.  P. 

London,  March,  1816. 


PREFACE, 

BY  THE  WRITER  OF  THE  AMERICAN  NOTES. 


When  the  American  Publishers  first  requested  me  to 
furnish  additions  to  Mr.  PHILLIP'S  work,  I  hesitated 
about  tbe  undertaking.  My  doubt  arose  from  the  amount 
of  information  nlready  extant  in  several  valuable  pub- 
lications, upon  Mineralogical  subjects. 

The  MEDICAL  REPOSITORY,  from  its  commencement 
in  1793,  to  the  present  time,  is  replete  with  such  intelli- 
gence. The  second  volume  of  that  Journal,  contains 
the  circular  address  of  the  first  Mineralogical  Society 
known  in  the  United  States  :  an  association,  of  which  I 
had  the  honour  to  be  the  president,  and  with  the  hono- 
rable Samuel  M.  Hopkins,  George  J  Warner,  Esq.  and 
other  early  and  zealous  labourers,  strove  to  arm  every 
hand  with  a  hammer,  and  every  eye  with  a  microscope. 

WOUIJHOUSE'S  EDITION  ^F  CHAPTAL'S  CHEMISTRY, 
contains  many  excellent  observations,  as  it  was  published 
during  1807,  arid  was  considered  by  me  as  one  of  the 
best  works  of  its  time. 

The  AMERICAN  MINERALOGICAL  JOURNAL  OF  ARCHI- 
BALD BRUCE,  M.  D.  which  was  concluded  in  1814,  is  an 
important  collection  of  facts  and  observations,  tending 
to  elucidate  the  Mineralogy  and  Geology  of  the  Fredo- 
nian  States  and  Territories.  But  above  all,  Professor 
CLEAVELAND'S  ELEMENTARY  TREATISE,  published  in 
1816,  is  so  rich  in  domestic  as  well  as  foreign  materials, 
and  so  generally  and  justly  In  the  hands  of  students  and 
other  inquirers,  that  it  seemed  to  supercede,  in  a  great 
degree,  the  use  of  other  books.  It  was  notwithstand- 
ing, represented  to  rne,  that  a  more  chea:>,  portable  and 
compendious  manual  of  the  Science,  was  demanded, 


X  PREFACE. 

and  that  an  impression  of  the  present  performance, 
would  be  immediately  begun. 

I  therefore  abandoned  my  scruplues,  and  determined 
to  compose  a  few  notes,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  more 
interest  to  the  present  edition.  Where  the  matter  of 
them  has  been  borrowed,  I  have  endeavoured  to  make 
proper  acknowledgement  of  the  source  ;  believing,  that 
for  good  deeds,  every  person  ought  to  receive  all  the 
praise  that  is  due  to  him.  Wherever  there  may  be 
omissions  in  this  respect,  the  reader  is  assured  they  do 
not  proceed  from  an  intention  to  withhold  commenda- 
tion. 

My  own  collection  of  facts  and  specimens  would  have 
permitted  me  to  have  been  much  more  ample  and  dif- 
fuse. Indeed,  it  was  a  task  of  considerable  difficulty,  to 
restrict  myself  to  the  actual  limits  ;  there  was  never- 
theless a  reason  for  it.  The  description  of  many  of  the 
specimens  in  Geology,  which  my  cabinet  contains, 
having  been  already  submitted  to  the  public,  there  was 
less  necessity  to  travel  out  of  the  province  of  Mineralogy 
on  the  present  occasion. 

I  must  however  observe,  that  additional  exertion, 
would  have  rendered  this  edition  more  complete,  and 
that,  from  the  rapid  influx  of  materials,  a  future  im- 
pression may  be  rendered  incomparably  more  valuable. 

It  is  very  remarkable,  how  much  1  am  indebted  to 
Ladies,  and  to  Military  (jrentlement  for  spec.imens.  I 
hope  tbeir  example  will  be  lollowed  by  all  other  classes 
of  Citizens. 


Aetf-Tbnfc,  May,  1818. 


SAMUEL.  L.  MiTCHlLL. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  investigation  of  the  structure  of  the  earth  belongs 
to  the  science  of  Geology.  It  may  however  be  interest- 
ing to  take  a  rapid  survey  of  the  present  state  of  our 
knowledge  respecting  it,  were  it  only  for  the  sake  of 
showing  its  intimate  connexion  with  mineralogical  pur- 
suits, 

In  speaking  of  the  earth  and  of  our  knowledge  of  its 
structure,  it  is  essential  that  the  limited  extent  of  that 
knowledge  should  always  be  had  in  remembrance.  We 
are  acquainted  with  it,  only  to  a  very  inconsiderable 
depth ;  and  when  it  is  recollected  that,  in  proportion  to 
the  bulk  of  the  earth,  its  highest  mountains  are  to  be  con- 
sidered merely  as  the  unimportant  inequalities  of  its  sur- 
face, and  that  our  acquaintance  does  not  extend  in  depth, 
more  than  one-fourth  of  the  elevation  of  these  moun- 
tains above  its  general  level,  we  shall  surely  estimate  our 
knowledge  of  the  earth  to  be  extremely  superficial ;  that 
it  extends  only  to  its  crust. 

The  term  'Crust  of  the  Earth'  therefore  relates  only 
lo  the  comparative  extent  of  our  knowledge  beneath  its 
surface.  It  is  not  used  with  the  intention  of  conveying 
an  opinion  that  the  earth  consists  only  of  this  crust,  or 
that  its  center  is  hollow ;  for  of  this  we  know  nothing. 
The  term  may  not  be  philosophical,  but  it  is  convenient. 

The  structure  of  the  crust  of  the  earth  is  most  readily 
studied  in  mountains,  because  their  masses  are  obvious; 
and  also  because,  as  they  are  the  chief  depositories  of  me- 
talliferous ores,  the  operations  of  the  miner  tend  greatly 
to  facilitate  their  study.  Mountains  are  composed  of  mas- 
ses which  have  no  particular  or  discernible  shape  :  or, 
as  is  more  commonly  the  case,  of  strata  or  beds,  either 
horizontal  or  oblique,  sometimes  nearly  vertical. 

*  B 


.11  INTRODUCTION. 

In  these  masses  and  beds,,  different  structures  have 
been  observed.  Some  of  them  are  crystalline  ;  that  is  to 
say,  are  composed  of  crystals  deposited  in  a  confused 
manner,  as  in  granite,  or  of  crystals  imbedded  in  some 
Other  substance,  as  in  porphyry.  These  crystalline 
rocks  contain  no  organic  remains ;  and,  as  they  are 
always  found  beneath,  never  above,  those  which  do  con- 
tain them,  they  are  considered  to  have  been  of  earlier 
formation,  and  therefore  have  been  termed  primitive 
rocks. 

Other  mountain  rocks  have  no  appearance  of  crystal- 
lization; but,  on  the  contrary,  seem  rather  to  have  been 
formed  by  the  mere  falling  down,  or  settlement,  of  the 
substances  of  which  they  are  composed,  from  the  solution 
which  contained  them.  These  are  always  found  above, 
never  beneath,  the  crystalline  rocks  ;  and  often  contain 
a  yast  abundance  of  organic  remains,  both  animal  and 
vegetable.  The  more  ancient  of  these,  or  such  as  con- 
tain the  remains  of  animals  of  which  the  genera  and  spe- 
cies are  extinct,  are  called  Transition  rocks  :  the  more 
recent,  or  such  as  contain  the  remains  of  animals  in  some 
degree,  or  perfectly,  resembling  those  inhabiting  our 
oceans,  are  called  Flcetz  or  Flat  rocks,  because  their  po- 
sition is  considerably,  or  perfectly,  horizontal  :  the  for- 
jner  have  received  the  name  of  Transition,  as  connect- 
ing the  primitive  with  the  flcetz  rocks.  By  many  mi- 
neralogists the  transition  and  the  floetz  are  classed  toge- 
ther under  the  name  of  secondary  rocks. 

Primitive  and  secondary  rocks  have  suffered  consider- 
able change  and  ruin  from  causes  which  it  is  not  our  pre- 
sent object  to  notice  ;  and  their  disintegrated  portions, 
having  been  formed  anew,  now  constitute  that  peculiar 
description  of  deposite  which  is  termed  alluvial,  and 
which  therefore  consists  of  the  debris  of  other  rocks. 
Such  are  clayi,  gravel,  sand,  &c.  and  these  often  con- 
tain the  remains  ot  land  and  amphibious  animals,  and 
0f  fish  :  they  are  found  above  the  preceding,  sometimes 
testing  immediately  upon  primitive  ro^ks. 

But  the^e  is  still  another  and  a  very  different  kind  of 
rock,  abundantly  found  in  certain  countries,  which  may 
in  a  great  measure  be  considered,  like  tl$e  preceding,  as 
^resulting  from  the  ruin  of  rocks,  but  from  an  opposite 


INTRODUCTION.  ill 

cause,  or  by  an  agent  directly  the  reverse,  viz.  by  fire  -y 
constituting  those  known  by  the  name  of  volcanic  rocks  .* 
many  of  these  strongly  bear  the  marks  of  heat,  and  even 
of  fusion;  some,  on  the  contrary,  offer  no  evidence  of 
their  having  been  subjected  to  heat. 

Lofty  mountains  composed  of  primitive  rocks  usually 
present  rugged  and  uneven  summits,  and  steep  acclivities 
on  the  sides,  as  though  they  had  suffered  by  convulsion. 
Such  as  are  wholly  or  externally  composed  of  secondary 
beds  or  strata,  are  less  rugged  on  the  summits  and  sides ; 
their  summits  are  flattish,  or  sojnewhat  rounded,  and  their 
sides  present  acclivities  more  easily  accessible;  and  are 
still  more  so  when  covered  by  alluvial  matter,  which 
serves  to  fill  up  their  roughnesses  and  hollows,  and  often 
presents  nearly  a  plane  surface. 

Both  primitive  and  secondary  mountains,  more  parti- 
cularly the  former,  are  traversed  in  various  directions  by 
fissures,  of  different  dimensions.  These  fissures  are  not 
often  empty,  but  are  mostly  filled  with  stoney  or  metal- 
liferious  substances,  accompanied  by  vast  quantities  of 
water;  but  not  often  by  portions  of  the  rocks  they  tra- 
verse. These  fissures  are  termed  Mineral  Iseins  :  of 
whatever  substance  or  substances,  the  body  of  a  vein  may 
be  composed,  its  sides  are  commonly  very  determinate, 
and  are  by  the  miner  called  the  walls  of  the  vein. 

From  these  veins,  a  large  proportion  of  all  the  mine- 
rals which  are  found  in  the  cabinet  of  the  mineralogist, 
are  extracted  ;  indeed  almost  all  such  as,  from  their  ra- 
rity, brilliancy,  or  peculiarity  of  form  and  combination, 
possess  the  greatest  attraction  for  the  mere  collector : 
but  these,  though  in  these  respects  they  may  be  the 
most  curious,  are  by  no  means  the  most  important- 

Mineralogy  is  a  science  of  so  great  interest,  tbat  it 
would  be  too  much  to  be  regretted  were  its  real  objects 
and  tendency  misunderstood,  or  suffered  to  degenerate 
into  an  avidity  merely  for  the  collecting  of  what  is  bril- 
liant or  rare.  It  is  capable  of  affording  larger  and  more 
useful  attainment  than  the  possession  of  an  unique.  To 
the  attainment  of  the  science  of  geology,  that  of  mine- 
ralogy is  essentially  requisite. 

The  study  of  mineralogy,  therefore,  does  not  include 
only  a  knowledge  of  the  more  rare  and  curious  substan- 


1?  INTRODUCTION. 

ces  5  there  is  nothing  in  the  mineral  kingdom  too  eleva- 
teJ  or  too  low  for  the  attention  of  the  mineralogist,  from 
the  substances  composing  the  summits  of  the  loftiest 
mountains,  to  the  sand  or  gravel  on  which  he  treads.  It 
is  true  that  the  aggregated  masses  of  compound  rocks 
are  not  arranged  in  a  mineralogical  collection ;  but  it 
must  be  remembered  that  each  of  the  substances  «f 
which  such  aggregated  masses  are  constituted,  are  all 
comprehended  in  a  mineralogical  arrangement,  and 
therefore  find  their  places  in  the  cabinet.  Granite,  it  is 
true,  is  not  to  be  found  there  ;  but  its  components, 
quartz,  felspar,  and  mica,  are  met  with  in  every  one. 

Thus,  then,  by  the  study  of  what,  in  opposition  to  the 
term  aggregated  rocks,  may  be  termed  simple  minerals, 
the  mineralogist  becomes  enabled  to  detect  the  sub- 
stance with  which  he  holds  acquaintance  by  itself,,  when 
aggregated  with  others  in  a  mass;  and  thus  he  becomes 
qualified  for  the  more  difficult  and  more  important  stu- 
dy of  the  science  of  geology  ;  which  embraces  a  know- 
ledge of  the  nature  and  respective  positions  of  the  masses 
and  beds  composing  mountains;  and  indeed  of  country 
of  every  description,  whether  mountainous  or  otherwise. 
It  is  not,  therefore,  or  at  least  it  ought  not  to  be,  the 
sole  object  of  the  mineralogist,  to  be  able  to  distinguish 
the  several  genera  and  species  of  mineral  substances  ; 
nor  should  his  attention  be  confined  to  the  mere  task  of 
recognizing  at  first  sight  any  mineral  that  may  present 
itself,  or  of  being  capable  of  at  once  assigning  it  a  pro- 
per place  in  his  cabinet.     He  should  hold  a  more  enlar- 
ged acquaintance  with  minerals,   and  with  the  circum- 
stances attending  them,  in  what  may  be  termed,  their 
native  places;  he  should  know  something  of  the   posi- 
tions they  respectively  bear  towards  each  other  in  those 
places  ;  he  should  become  acquainted  with   their  rela- 
tive ages,  deduced  from  the  nature  of  the  rocks  in  which 
they  are  found  ;   their  comparative  scarcity   or  abun- 
dance ;  their  combinations  ;  the  countries  in  which  they 
occur;  and  their  characters,  both  internal  and  external. 
This  knowledge,  it  may  be  repeated,  is  the  first  and 
requisite  step  to  the  science  of  geology :  not  that  it  is 
essential  to  this  science  that  every  mineral  should  be  ac- 
curately known  :  some  are  of  comparatively  little  impcr- 


INTRODUCTION.  V 

lance  in  a  geological  point  of  view,  from  their  extreme 
scarcity ;  but  it  is  essential  to  become  acquainted  with 
simple  minerals  in  the  general,  because  of  some  of  them^ 
many  of  the  vast  masses  of  the  earth  are  composed. 

Minerals  which  are  found  only  in  primitive  rocks,  are 
said  to  belong  to  primitive  countries  ;  by  which  name 
are  designed  such  tracts  as  are  chiefly  composed  of  pri- 
mitive rocks.  The  substance  in  or  on  which  a  mineral 
is  found,  is  called  its  gangue  or  matrix;  when  in  its  natu- 
ral place  or  position,  a  mineral  is  said  to  be  in  situ; 
when  this  place  and  position  are  known,,  we  are  acquain- 
ted  with  its  habitat. 

In  conformity  with  the  object  of  this  work,  as  explain- 
ed in  the  preface,  we  must,  before  entering  upon  a  des- 
cription of  individual  minerals,  take  a  view  of  the  num- 
ber, as  well  as  of  the  nature  of  the  elementary  bodies,  of 
which  they  are  constituted.  In  this,  I  shall  aim  at  brevity. 

The  whole  number  of  mineral  elements  are  common- 
ly included  in  the  list  of  9  earths,  2  alkalies,  27  metals, 
and  the  two  bases  of  combustible  bodies,  carbon  and 
sulphur ;  but  there  are  still  other  substances,  both  sim- 
ple and  compound,  which  having  been  detected  by 
analysis,  as  entering  into  the  composition  of  certain  of 
the  minerals  about  to  be  described ;  it  seems  essential 
in  an  elementary  view  of  the  science  that  these  con- 
stituents should  have  a  due  consideration,  whether 
they  be  regarded  essentially  as  mineral  elements,  or  on- 
ly as  accessaries. 

These  substances  consist  of  certain  acids,  together 
with  water,  hydrogen  and  oxygen.  * 

The  acids  are  1 3  in  number,  and  are  compound  sub- 
stances ;  generally,  though  not  without  exception,  con- 
sisting of  oxygen,  united  in  different  proportions  with 
certain  bases. 

The  base  of  the  Molybdic     add  is    Molybdena 

Arsenic  Arsenic 

Chromic  Chrome 

Tungstic  Tungsten 

Carobnic  Carbon 

Sulphuric  Sulphur 

Phosphoric  Phosphorus 

Fhioric  Fluorine 

Boracic  Boron 

Wit- ic  Nitrogen 

Muriatic  Chlorine 

Succinic  unknown 

Mellitrc  unknown 


Vi  INTRODUCTION. 

The  bases  of  the  four  first,  being  metals,  are  included 
in  the  27  already  adverted  to  ;  those  of  the  two  next  are 
the  bases  also  of  combustible  substances,  and  therefore 
some  description  of  the  first  six  bases  will  be  given  in 
their  proper  places  ;  but  it  will  be  requisite  to  give  some 
account  of  phosphorus,  fluorine,  boron,  nitrogen,  chlo- 
rine, and  of  the  succinic,  and  mellitic  acids ;  as  well  as  of 
water,  hydrogen,  and  oxygen. 

The  necessity  for  including  all  these  in  the  catalogue 
of  the  constituents  of  mineral  substances  will  become 
apparent  as  we  proceed. 

In  the  following  list,  therefore,  are  comprehended, 
according  to  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge,  the 
whole  number  of  the 

ELEMENTS  OR  ACCESSARY  CONSTITUENTS  OF 
MINERALS. 

Oxygen,  Nitrogen,  9  Earths, 

Hydrogen,  Chlorine,  3  Alkalies, 

Water,  Boron,  27  Metals, 

Phosphorus,  rl  he  succinic  acid,  Carbon, 

Fluorine,  The  mellitic  acid,  Sulphur. 

Many  of  the  substances  included  in  the  foregoing  list 
are  esteemed  to  be  simple  elementary  bodies,  because 
they  have  not  hitherto  yielded  to  any  of  the  numerous 
attempts  of  the  chemist  to  decompose  them  ;  others 
have  only  J?een  partially  analyzed,  though  sufficiently  to 
determine  that  they  are  compounds;  of  others  again  the 
composition  is  known  ;  others  have  altogether  eluded 
the  vigilant  eye  of  the  analyst. 

Chemistry,  notwithstanding  the  rapid  advances  that 
have  been  made  in  it,  during  the  last  few  years,  is  still 
acknowledged  to  be  far  from  perfect  as  a  science.  New 
facts  continually  arise,  which  as  continually  tend  to  illus- 
trate and  to  advance  the  science  of  mineralogy,  which  is 
yet  in  its  infancy,  and  is  dependent  in  a  very  important 
degree  on  the  advancement  of  chemical  science. 

In  the  following  pages  is  inserted  a  short  sketch  of  the 
nature  and  properties  of  each  of  the  substances  included 
in  the  above  list  of  the  elements  or  accessary  constitu- 
ents of  minerals ;  which,  it  is  presumed,  will  tend  to 
throw  some  light  on  the  actual  state  of  our  knowledge  of 


INTRODUCTION.  Vll 

mineralogy  in  so  far  as  it  is  dependent  on  chemistry;  as 
well  as  upon  the  affinity  and  relative  proportions  which 
these  substances  bear  towards  each  other  as  mineral 
constituents. 

Some  account  of  the  acids  generally  is  likewise  given, 
as  well  as  of  the  earths,  alkalies,  metals,  and  combustibles : 
observations  on  each  earth,  alkali  and  metal,  are  inser- 
ted preceding  the  descriptions  of  such  substances  as 
are  placed  under  each  of  them,  in  conformity  with  our 
present  object. 


OXYGEN. 


Oxygen  has  not  been  obtained  in  a  complete  state  of 
separation  :  in  the  most  simple  form  in  which  it  has  been 
procured,  it  is  combined  with  caloric,  forming  what  is 
termed  oxygen  gas ;  thus  united,  it  is  essential  to  the 
support  of  animal  life. 

Oxygen  gas  may  be  obtained  from  many  substances ; 
it  is  most  abundantly,  and  perhaps  most  readily,  procu- 
red from  the  black  oxide  of  manganese  ;  which  furnishes 
all  the  oxygen  used  by  the  chemist,  and  all  the  oxygen 
used  in  the  preparation  of  the  oxymuriatic  acid  consu- 
med in  the  bVacheries  of  Britain  and  other  countries. 

All  the  substances  from  which  it  can  be  procured,  are 
considerably  diminished  in  weight  after  yielding  oxygen 
gas,  which  is  rather  heavier  than  common  air :  all  bodies 
which  absorb  oxygen  acquire  an  addition  to  their  weight. 

Oxygen  was  formerly  considered  to  be  the  general 
cause  of  acidity  ;  in  other  words,  a  necessary  principle 
of  every  acid  ;  and  the  term  Oxygen  is  compounded  of 
two  Greek  word*,  having  allusion  to  that  supposed  theo- 
ry ;  but  that  theory  has  lately  been  done  away,  by  direct 
proof  of  its  not  being  correct  in  two  instances,  which  is 
further  corroborated  by  the  probability  of  its  incorrect- 
ness in  some  others  ;  and  that  certain  bodies  afford  acids 
by  combining  with  hydrogen. 

Oxygen,  iris  ascertained,  is  so  abundant  a  principle  in 
many  minerals,  particularly  of  those  constituting  the 
oldest  and  most  plentiful  masses  of  the  crust  of  the  globe, 
that  it  may  be  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  common  and 


Vlll  INTRODUCTION. 

most  abundant  of  mineral  elements,  if  not  tlie  most  com- 
mon and  most  abundant  of  all 

Of  the  most  plentiful  of  all  mineral  substances,  silex,  it 
forms  54  per  cent. ;  of  alumine  46  ;  of  lime  28  ;  of 
magnesia  38  ;  of  potash  17,  and  of  soda  26  per  cent.; 
to  which  it  may  be  added,  that  it  forms  about  88-J  per 
cent,  of  water ;  and  that  in  the  ores  of  tin  and  manga- 
nese, and  many  of  those  of  iron,  lead,  copper,  &c. 
oxygen  enters  as  an  ingredient  in  various  proportions. 

Oxygen  also  forms  an  important  ingredient  in  many 
minerals,  as  an  essential  element  in  certain  acids  ;  as  in 
the  two  abundant  substances  the  sulphate  and  carbonate 
of  lime.  It  has  been  supposed  that  the  latter  alone  con- 
stitutes one-eighth  part  of  the  whole  crust  of  the  globe. 
It  may  be  assumed  that  lime  stone  is  composed  of  56 
parts  of  lime  and  44  of  carbonic  acid.  Now  lime  consists 
of  about  72  per  cent,  of  calcium,  and  28  of  oxygen  ;  and 
carbonic  acid  of  about  23  per  cent,  of  carbon,  and  72 
per  cent,  of  oxygen  ;  so  that  oxygen  enters  into  the  com- 
position of  the  one  eighth  part  of  the  crust  of  the  globe, 
which  is  calculated  to  be  constituted  of  carbonate  of 
lime,  in  point  of  fact,  nearly  in  the  proportion  of  one- 
half. 

But  argillaceous  rocks  are  considered  '•&  be  more  uni- 
versal and  plentiful  than  calcareous,  and  siliceous  more 
abundant  still.  Of  these  rocks  oxygen  forms  on  an  aver- 
age 50  per  cent. ;  so  that  the  calculation  in  regard  to  the 
proportion  in  which  oxygen  enters  into  the  composition 
of  minerals,  would  amount  to  a  very  large  percentage  of 
the  whole  crust  of  the  globe. 

HYDROGEN, 

The  most  simple  form  in  which  Hydrogen  has  been 
obtained,  is  that  of  a  gas,  in  which  it  is  in  union  with  calo- 
ric, or  the  matter  of  heat.  It  is  considered  to  be  an  ele- 
mentary body. 

Hydrogen  is  one  of  the  component  elements  of  water; 
its  name  is  compounded  of  two  Greek  words,  importing 
that  circumstance  ;  it  is  one  of  the  elements  of  sulphur, 
and  also,  as  it  is  believed,  of  phosphorus,  of  ammonia,  and 
gf  the  fluoric,  and  muriatic  acids.  It  is  obtained,  in  varia- 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

able  proportion,  from  several  of  those  substances,  which 
are  termed  combustibles ;  and,  in  combination  with  sul- 
phur, forming  sulphuretted  hydrogen,  it  has  been  detect- 
ed by  analysis,  in  the  Haiiyne  or  Latialite ;  the  swine- 
stone  or  stinkstone,  a  variety  of  carbonate  of  lime  which 
is  found  in  considerable  abundance,  is  supposed  to  owe 
the  peculiarly  offensive  odour  which  it  gives  out  when 
scraped  or  rubbed,  to  the  presence  of  sulphuretted  hy- 
drogen. 

Hydrogen  gas  is  emitted  from  the  crevices  of  volcanic 
matter  ;  and  it  is  asserted  by  Brongniart,  that  near  St. 
Barthelemi,  which  is  not  far  from  Grenoble  in  France, 
hydrogen  gas  issues  from  the  crevices  of  a  country  which 
has  no  appearance  of  being  volcanic  ;  and  consisting  of 
a  grey  friable  argillaceous  schistus.  The  gas  has  no 
odour  ;  and  if  inflamed  continues  burning  sometimes  for 
many  months  :  the  surrounding  mountains  are  calcareous. 
He  likewise  says,  that  similar  circumstances  occur  in 
England,  on  the  road  between  Warrington  and  Chester, 
and  also  near  Brozely  in  Shropshire. 

WATER. 

Water  is  composed  of  oxygen  and  hydrogen,  in  the  pro- 
portion of  about  88£  of  the  former  to  11  j.  of  the  latter. 

Water  may  be  considered  as  merely  an  accessary,  and 
not  as  an  element,  in  some  minerals  :  it  is  occasionally 
enclosed  in  crystal  and  chalcedony,  and  in  variable  pro- 
portion in  certain  minerals  of  a  granular  or  loose  texture ; 
but,  in  some  oiners,  it  ?««  an  essential  principle,  as  is  evin- 
ced by  the  difference  existing  between  the  forms  of  the 
primitive  crystals  of  the  common,  and  of  the  anhydrous, 
sulphate  of  lime  ;  the  latter  of  these  is  composed  of  lime 
and  sulphuric  acid  ;  the  former,  of  lime,  sulphuric  acid, 
and  21  per  cent,  of  water :  when  water  is  an  essential  prin- 
ciple, it  is  termed  water  of  crystallization. 

Vrater  is  found  in  very  different  proportions,  in  a  large 
number  of  earthy,  as  well  as  of  metallic,  minerals,  both 
crystallized  and  massive. 

The  pure  alkalies,  potash  and  soda,  retain  even  after 
fusion,  about  l-5th  of  their  weight  of  water;  and  all  acids, 
in  a  liquid  state,  contain  water  as  an  essential  element. 


INTRODUCTION. 


ACIDS. 


It  is  impossible  to  give  such  a  description  of  the  acids 
as  will  characterize  them  altogether  The  greatest  part 
of  them  are  chemically  described  as  possessing  a  sour 
taste  of  various  degrees  of  intensity,  and  of  reddening  ve- 
getable blue  colours  :  but  these  properties  are  not  com- 
mon to  all  of  them. 

The  peculiar  properties  of  each  acid  are  derived 
from  the  base.  This  base  in  most  of  the  acids  is  united 
with  a  certain  proportion  of  oxygen  ;  which  until  lately 
was  conceived  to  be  the  acidifying  principle.  In  two 
of  the  acids  it  has  however  been  proved,  that  their  aci- 
difying principle  is  hydrogen  ;  which  also  is  probably 
the  case  in  respect  of  certain  others. 

The  names  given  to  the  acids  have  been  mostly  de- 
rived from  their  bases :  thus  sulphur,  in  combination 
with  a  certain  proportion  of  oxygen,  affords  sulphuric 
acid  5  carbon  affords  carbonic  acid,  and  so  on. 


Add. 

Base 

The  carbonic,     consists  of 

carbon 

phosphoric 

phosphorus 

fluoric 

fluorine 

sulphuric 
muriatic 

sulphur 
chlorine 

nitric 

nitrogen 

boracic 

boroa 

tuogstic 
chromic 

tungsten 
ciironif 

molybdic 

melybdena 

arsenic 

ar>enic 

KECcinic 

unknown 

mellitic 

unknown 

and 


•Acidifying  Principle. 


oxygen 

oxygi  n 

hydrogen 

oxygen 

hydro sen 

oxygen 

oxygen 

oxygfin 

oxygen 

oxygen 

oxygen 


Each  of  the  above  acids  is  found  in  one  or  other  of 
the  mineral  substances  about  to  be  described  ;  and  in 
the  preceding  list  they  are  arranged  in  the  order  of  their 
supposed  formation,  arguing  fr6m  the  nature  of  the  rocks 
in  which  the  substances  mineralized  by  them  are  met 
with. 

An  earth,  a  metal,  or  an  alkali  combined  with  an  acid, 
is  chemically  termed  a  Salt;  acidiferous  mineral  sub- 
stances have  therefore  been  termed  Salts,  by  some  mi- 
neralogists ;  and  have  been  selected  from  minerals  in 
general,  and  arranged  under  the  name  of  Saline  Mine- 


INTRODUCTION.  XI 

rah.  This  selection  has  been  altogether  arbitrary  ;  all 
those  who  have  constructed  arrangements  have  not  been 
determined  in  their  selection  by  a  precise  agreement 
in  the  characters  of  the  minerals  they  have  selected  ;the 
minerals  of  this  class  (for  the  existence  of  which  there 
seems  to  be  no  reasonable  occasion)  have  been  much 
more  numerous  in  some  arrangements  than  in  others. — 
By  others  the  Jlcidiferous  Earthy  Substances  have  been, 
placed  by  themselves  under  that  title. 

The  carbonic,  phosphoric,  fluoric,  sulphuric,  muriatic, 
nitric,  boracic,  and  arsenic  acids,  are  found  in  combina- 
tion with  earths. 

The  carbonic,  phosphoric,  sulphuric,  muriatic,  tung- 
Stic,  chromic,  molybdic,  and  arsenic  acids,  are  found 
mineralizing  certain  of  the  metals. 

The  nitric  and  carbonic  acids  are  found  united  with, 
potash. 

The  carbonic,  sulphuric,  muriatic,  and  boracic  acids 
are  found  combined  with  soda. 

PHOSPHORUS. 

Phosphorus  is  a  highly  inflammable  substance,  usually 
of  a  flesh  red  colour,  and  very  soft:  its  sp.  gr.  is  1.77. — 
In  the  atmosphere  it  emits  a  white  smoke,  and  peculiar 
smell,  and  a  faint  and  beautiful  light  arises  from  it. 

When  phosphorus  is  acted  upon  by  a  powerful  voltaic 
battery,  it  gives  out  a  gas  in  considerable  quantity,  which 
proves  to  be  phosphoretted  hydrogen  :  hence  it  is  con- 
cluded that  hydrogen  is  one  of  its  component  elements. 
This  is  the  present  extent  of  our  knowledge  respecting 
the  nature  of  phosphorus. 

100  parts  of  phosphoric  acid  are  composed  of  pho$* 

phorus  36.72,  and  of  oxygen  53.28.     It  is  obtained  by 

a  chemical  process  from    calcined  bones  ;  by  another 

^process,  the  phosphoric  acid  is  robbed  of  its  oxygen,  and 

phosphorus  is  obtained. 

Lead,  manganese,  and  copper,  are  found  mineralized 
by  the  phosphoric  acid,  in  proportions  differing  from  18 
to  31  per  cent.  ;  it  also  occurs  in  a  small  quantity  in  one 
of  the  ores  of  iron  ;  and  combined  with  lime,  in  the  pro- 
portion of  46  per  cent. 


XII  INTRODUCTION. 

• 


FLUORINE. 


The  last  experiments  of  Sir  H.  Davy  on  fluoric  acid, 
have  induced  him  to  believe  that  it  is  composed  of  hy- 
drogen and  a  peculiar  base  which  he  has  denominated 
fluorine.  This  substance,  from  its  strong  affinities  and 
decomposing  agencies,  has  not  yet  been  exhibited  in  a 
separate  state  ;  nor  have  any  attempts  to  detach  it  from 
its  combinations  been  successful. 

Lime,  mineralized  by  the  fluoric  acid,  is  of  abundant 
occurrence,  forming  fluate  of  lime,  in  which  the  acid 
exists  in  the  proportion  of  33  per  cent ;  and  it  is  com- 
bined in  nearly  the  same  proportion  with  alumine  and 
soda  in  the  cryolite  ;  of  the  Saxon  topaz  and  the  picnite 
it  forms  5  or  6  per  cent. :  it  has  not  been  detected  in  any 
metalliferous  mineral. 

NITROGEN. 

Nitrogen,  in  combination  with  caloric,  when  it  is 
termed  nitrogen  gas,  is  one  of  the  constituents  of  atmo- 
spherical air :  from  its  unfitness  for  the  support  of  ani- 
mal life,  it  is  frequently  called  azotic  gas :  the  term  azote 
is  compounded  of  two  Greek  words,  having  allusion  to 
that  negative  quality.  It  has  since  been  called  Nitro- 
gen gas,  because,  by  a  union  with  oxygen,  it  composes 
nitric  acid. 

It  immediately  extinguishes  a  lighted  candle  and  even 
phosphorus,  and  is  fatal  to  animal  life. 

It  is  suspected  that  nitrogen  is  not  an  element ;  Ber- 
zelius  supposes  it  to  be  a  compound  of  oxygen  with 
some  base  in  nearly  equal  proportions  :  this  supposition 
is  merely  hypothetical. 

The  claims  of  nitrogen  to  be  considered  as  a  mineral 
constituent,  are,  that  it  enters  into  the  composition  of 
ammonia,  one  of  the  alkalies  ;  and  that,  as  a  constituent 
of  the  nitric  acid,  which  consists  of  25i  of  nitrogen  and 
74£  of  oxygen,  it  is  also  an  ingredient  of  nitre  or  salt- 
petre. 


INTRODUCTION,  XU1 

CHLORINE, 

It  is  the  opinion  of  Sir  H.  Davy,  and  many  other 
able  chemists,  that  the  oxymuriatic  acid  contains  no 
oxygen  ;  the  presence  of  which  its  name  implies.  He 
has  consequently  changed  its  name  for  that  of  Chlorine, 
derived  from  the  green  colour  which  it  possesses  when 
in  a  gaseous  form.  Chlorine  has  never  been  decompo- 
sed. The  muriatic  acid  consists  of  equal  volumes  of 
Chlorine  and  hydrogen. 

Chlorine  has  never  been  found  pure,  in  nature. 

The  muriatic  acid  is  found  in  small  quantity  in  the 
soilalile,  and  one  or  two  earthy  minerals ;  but  in  com- 
mon, or  rock  salt,  it  is  combined  in  the  proportion  of  44 
per  cent.  :  it  is  found  in  combination  with  lead,  quick- 
silver, and  silver,  in  proportions  differing  from  8  to  21 
per  cent. :  of  the  arseniate  and  phosphate  of  lead,  it 
forms  about  2  per  cent. 

BORON. 

Boron  is  a  peculiar  combustible  substance,  which  has 
been  obtained  by  subjecting  crystals  of  boracic  acid  to 
the  action  of  a  voltaic  battery.  Its  precise  nature  is  not 
yet  understood  ;  though  it  is  ascertained  to  be  a  sub- 
stance differing  from  every  other  known  species  of  mat- 
ter. Sir  H.  Davy  conjectures  that  it  is  a  compound. 

Boracic  acid  is  supposed  ta  consist  of  one  part  by 
weight  of  boron,  and  2  of  oxygen. 

The  boracic  acid  enters  into  the  composition  of  two 
rare  earthy  minerals,  the  boracite  and  the  datholite  :  in 
the  proportion,  of  83  per  cent,  in  the  former,  and  24  per 
cent,  in  the  latter.  It  has  not  been  detected  in  any  metal- 
liferous substance  ;  but  it  occurs  in  the  proportion  of  17 
per  cent,  in  the  borate  of  soda,  or  borax,  which  is  abun- 
dant in  a  certain  lake  in  Thibet. 

-r^v-*;     04, 

THE    SUCCINIC  ACID.  -    ,.,<;  | 

The  only  claim  wkich  the  Succinic  acid  has  to  be 
considered  as  a  mineral  constituent,  is,  that  it  forms  one 


XIV  INTRODUCTION* 

of  the  ingredient  principles  of  amber;  which,  though  it 
be  of  uncertain  origin,  has  by  common  consent  obtained 
a  place  among  mineral  substances. 

This  acid  is  not  obtained  pure  from  amber ;  but  when 
purified,  it  forms  white,  transparent,  shining  crystals,  hav- 
ing the  form  of  triangular  prisms.  The  Succinic  acid, 
from  its  property  of  decomposing  all  solutions  of  iron,  is 
highly  useful  in  the  analysis  of  mineral  waters.  It  has 
not  been  decomposed:  its  base  is  therefore  unascer- 
tained. 

THE  MELLITIC  ACID. 

The  Honeystone  or  Mellite,  one  of  the  combustibles, 
is  the  only  substance  that  has  yielded  tb*e  Mellitic  acid  ; 
•which  is  obtained  from  it  by  a  chemical  process,  in  acicu- 
lar  crystals,  which  possess  at  once  a  sour,  sweet,  and  bit- 
ter taste,  and  are  combustible.  The  base  of  this  acid  is 
not  ascertained. 

Some  account  of  the  bases  of  the  other  acids  will  fol- 
low; carbon  and  sulphur  being  noticed  under  the  head 
of  Combustibles,  and  tungsten,  chrome,  molybdena,  and 
arsenic,  under  that  of  Metals. 

EARTHS. 
The  Earths  are  nine  in  number,  viz. 

Silex,  Magnesia,  Yttria, 

Almnine,  Zircon,  Barytes, 

Lime,  Glucine,  Stiontian. 

Four  of  them,  Lime,  Magnesia,  Barytes  and  Stron- 
tian, possess  some  of  the  chemical  characters  of  the  Al- 
kalies ;  by  some,  they  have  therefore  been  placed  among 
the  Alkalies  ;  others  have  called  them  Alkaline  Earths. 
The  whole  number  were,  until  within  the  last  few  years, 
considered  to  be  simple  or  elementary  bodies,  but  SirH. 
Davy  has  proved  them  to  be  compounds  consisting  of 
oxygen  united  with  certain  bases,  some  of  which  possess 
several  of  the  characters  peculiar  to  the  metals  ;  but  the 
nature  of  these  bases  is  not  so  well  ascertained  as  that  of 


XV 

the  bases  of  the  two  Alkalies.  The  discoverer,  however, 
considers  most  of  them  to  be  metals  ;  and  if  this  be  ad» 
milted,  the  earths  are  to  be  considered  as  metallic  oxides. 

The  four  alkaline  earths  were  much  more  readily  de- 
composed, and  their  bases  are  ascertained  to  possess 
certain  of  the  characters  and  properties  of  the  metals, 
with  greater  certainty  than  the  remaining  five  ;  which 
have  a  much  stronger  affinity  for  the  oxygen  with  which 
they  are  combined. 

The  metallic  basis  of  Barytes,  has  been  named  Barium, 
by  Sir  H.  Davy  ;  that  of  Strontian,  he  denominates  Stron- 
tium ;  that  of  Lime,  Calcium;  for  that  of  Magnesia,  Mag- 
nesium  has  been  proposed,  but  it  is  less  perfectly  known 
than  the  three  preceding  :  the  base  of  Silex,  Silicium, 
has  not  been  obtained  in  a  state  of  separation  ;  it  was  at 
first  considered  to  be  a  metal,  but  "  Sir  H.  Davy  now 
believes  it  not  to  be  a  metal,  but  a  substance  most  re- 
sembling boron  ;  and,  like  it,  bearing  an  analogy  to 
charcoal,  sulphur,  and  phosphorus."  The  base  of  Alu- 
mine,  Jllumium,  has  not  yet  been  produced  in  a  state  fit 
for  investigation  :  that  of  Zircon,  or  Zirconium,  is  still 
unknown  :  as  well  as  that  of  Glucine,  or  Gluanum  ;  and 
that  of  Yttria,  Yttrium,  has  not  been  exhibited  in  a  sepa- 
rate form. 

These  bases  are  united  with  oxygen  in  different  pro- 
portions. That  of  Barytes  is  united  with  about  10  per 
cent,  of  oxygen  ;  that  of  Yttria  about  12  per  cent. ;  of 
Strontian  about  14  per  cent.  ;  that  of  Zircon  17  per 
cent. ;  of  Lime  28  per  cent. ;  of  Glucine  30  per  cent.  ; 
of  Magnesia  38  ;  of  Alumine  46  ;  and  of  Silex  54  per 
cent. 

The  Earths  are  here  placed  in  the  foregoing  order, 
(p.  xiv.)  and  the  minerals  of  which  they  constitute  the 
chief  ingredients,  will  hereafter  be  noticed  in  that  order, 
for  the  following  reasons.  Silex,  Alumine,  and  Lime, 
are  the  principle  constituents  of  the  oldest  primitive 
rocks.  Magnesia  also  enters  into  the  composition  of  a 
primitive  rock,  though  not  one  of  the  most  abundant* 
Zircon  and  Glucine  are  in  part  the  constituents  of  a  few 
rare  minerals  which  are  imbedded  in  early  rocks,  or  are 
met  with  in  the  veins  of  primitive  mountains  ;  in  the 


XVi  INTRODUCTION. 

veins  of  which,  also,  Yttria,  Barytes,  and  Strontian  occa- 
sionally occur. 

Some  further  observations  respecting  the  relative  pro- 
portions and  localities  of  the  Earths  may  prove  interest- 
ing. 

Silex  is  not  only  the  chief  ingredient  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  most  abundant  rocks,  but  it  also  forms  a  con- 
siderable proportion  of  all  clays  and  soils  ;  it  is  the  prin- 
cipal constituent  of  more  than  half  of  the  whole  number 
of  compound  earthy  substances,  which,  in  contradis- 
tinction to  aggregated  rocks,  ?re  sometimes  termed 
simple  minerals  ;  it  enters  into  the  composition  of  a  few 
rare  and  crystallized  metalliferous  minerals  in  the  pro- 
portion of  30  or  40  per  cent.,  and  in  very  small  propor- 
tion in  several  of  the  most  abundant  ores  of  iron.  If  there- 
fore it  were  possible,  as  heretofore,  to  regard  Silex  as  a 
simple  elementary  body,  we  should  have  no  difficulty  in 
adjudging  it  to  be  the  most  abundant  in  nature. 

Alumine  is  considered  to  be  the  most  plentiful  earth 
after  Silex.  It  occurs  largely  in  primitive  rocks,  in  many 
of  the  secondary,  and  in  all  clays  and  soils  :  it  enters  in- 
to the  composition  of  a  considerable  number  of  earthy 
minerals,  and  in  small  proportions  in  a  few  metallife- 
rous minerals,  particularly  in  certain  ores  of  iron. 

Lime  is  less  abundant  than  Alumine  in  primitive  rocks ; 
but  is  extremely  so  in  transition  and  nVtz,  or  secondary 
rocks  ;  it  enters  into  the  composition  of  many  compound 
earthy  minerals  :  it  forms  from  9  to  25  per  cent,  in  a 
few  rare  and  crystallized  minerals,  and  is  found  in  smal- 
ler proportions  in  a  few  others. 

Magnesia  is  not  an  abundant  ingredient  in  rocks  ;  but 
is  chiefly  confined  to  those  called  serpentine,  basalt,  and 
certain  varieties  of  limestone.  Some  of  the  earthy  mi- 
nerals in  which  it  is  found,  and  which  are  pretty  nume- 
rous, occasionally  enter  into  the  composition  of  rocks, 
but  are  principally  met  with  in  veins.  It  occurs  but 
sparingly  in  soils,  and  is  unfavorable  to  vegetation  :  the 
only  metalliferous  mineral  in  which  it  has  been  detect* 
ed  is  spathos  iron,  of  which  it  forms  less  than  1  per  cent. 

Zircon,  Glucine  and  Yttria  are  very  sparingly  found  : 
the  first  is  the  most  common  ;  the  second  has  been  de- 
tected only  as  a  component  of  a  very  few  rare  minerals 


INTRODUCTION. 

'in  small  proportions :  both  are  met  with  imbedded,  and 
in  veins,  in  primitive  rocks.  Yttria  has  been  discovered 
only  as  an  ingredient  in  two  or  three  rare  minerals. 

Barytes  is  not  very  abundant ;  Strontian  'may  be  es- 
teemed a  rare  earth  ;  they  are  chiefly  found  in  mineral 
veins,  and  have  not  been  detected  in  rocks  or  soils :  they 
are  principally  met  with  in  that  state,  which  has  induced 
some  mineralogists  to  rank  them  among  saline  minerals. 
The  latter  has  not  been  found  combined  in  any  metal- 
liferous mineral ;  the  former  only  in  one,  compact  man- 
ganese, in  the  proportion  of  14  per  cent. 

Silex,  Alumine  and  Magnesia  are  met  with  nearly 
pure. 

Silex,  Zircon,  Glucine  and  Yttria  have  not  been 
found  combined  with  an  acid  ;  but  the  former  is  involv- 
ed in  many  acidiferous  minerals. 

Lime,  Barytes  and  Strontian  chiefly  occur  combined 
with  acids ;  but  the  former  is  an  ingredient  in  many 
earthy  minerals  which  are  not  acidiferous. 

THE  ALKALIES. 

The  Alkalies,  Potash,  Soda,  and  Ammonia,  have  pe- 
culiar chemical  properties,  which  are  not  our  present  ob- 
ject. The  two  first,  not  being  volatilized  by  a  moderate 
heat,  are  termed  fixed  alkalies ;  the  last,  as  it  exists  in 
its  purest  form  in  the  state  of  gas,  is  called  Volatile  Al- 
kali. Potash  and  Soda  were  long  considered  to  be 
simple  elementary  bodies,  though  it  was  also  conjectur- 
ed that  they  were  not.  Within  the  last  few  years  that  con- 
jecture has  been  verified  by  the  brilliant  discoveries  of 
Sir  H.  Davy,  who  effected  their  decomposition  by  means 
of  electric  or  galvanic  agency  It  has  by  this  means 
been  satisfactorily  determined  that  Potash  consists  of 
oxygen,  united  with  a  base  which,  in  many,  if  not  in 
most  respects,  bears  a  strong  affinity  to  the  metals  :  it  is 
of  a  silvery  whiteness,  and  is  solid  at  common  tempera- 
tures. Soda,  it  has  been  determined,  consists  of  oxygen 
united  with  a  base  which  is  solid  at  the  usual  tempera- 
ture of  the  air. 

These  bases,  Potassium  and  Sodium,  are  combustible 
bodies  :  by  exposure  to  oxygen,  under  certain -circuoa^ 


XV1U  INTRODUCTION. 

stances,  they  absorb  it,  and  thus  become  alkalies  again. 
In  lustre,  opacity  and  malleability,  and  in  certain  chemi- 
cal properties,  these  bases  agree  with  the  metals  :  and 
have  therefore  been  considered  as  metals  by  Sir  II. 
Davy  :  but  they  are  lighter  than  water,  and  are  there- 
fore at  least  six  times  lighter  than  the  lightest  of  the  me- 
tals, tellurium. 

Potash  consists  of  about  17  of  oxygen,  and  83  of  po- 
tassium. Soda  of  about  26  of  oxygen,  and  74  of  so- 
dium. 

Ammonia,  or  Volatile  Alkali,  has  likewise  been  de- 
composed by  voltaic  electricity.  100  measures  of  Am- 
monia are  estimated  to  consist  of  about  75  of  hydrogen 
and  25  of  nitrogen  ;  but  certain  experiments,  conducted 
by  Sir  H.  Davy,  have  induced  him  to  suspect  that  Am- 
monia contains  7  or  8  per  cent,  of  oxygen. 

Potash  is  found  entering  into  the  composition  in  about 
15  earthy  compounds,  but  not  in  any  of  the  metallife- 
rous ores :  in  small  proportions  it  occurs  in  rnica  and 
felspar,  two  ingredients  of  the  oldest  rocks,  and  also  com- 
bined with  certain  acids. 

Soda  is  found  in  combination  in  about  twelve  earthy 
substances  in  variable  proportion  ;  but  not  in  metallife- 
rous ores  :  it  occurs  abundantly,  combined  with  several 
of  the  acids. 

Ammonia  is  met  with  only  in  combination  with  two 
or  three  of  the  acids. 


METALS. 

A  metal  may  be  chemically  described  as  a  combustible 
or  ooddable  substance  ;  capable,  when  in  a  state  of  oxide, 
of  uniting  with  acids,  and  of  forming  with  them  compound 
salts.  This  is  a  character  applicable  to  all  the  metals 
and  to  no  other  class  of  bodies. 

Metals  are  believed  to  be  simple  substances ;  not  one 
of  them  having  hitherto  been  decomposed. 

In  weight  the  metals  far  exceed  the  earths  ;  the  heavi- 
est of  the  earths  is  only  five  times  heavier  than  water, 
but  the  lightest  of  the  metals  is  more  than  six  limes 
heavier  than  water.  Beaten  gold  is  nineteen  times  hea- 


INTRODUCTION.  XIX 

vier  than  water,  and  beaten  platina,  the  heaviest  of  all, 
is  twenty-three  times  heavier  than  water. 

The  metals  also  have  other  important  characters. — 
Each  possesses  a  colour  peculiar  to  itself.  Some  of 
them  are  exceedingly  ductile,  as  is  manifested  by  the 
extremely  fine  wires  into  which  they  are  drawn.  Most 
of  them  are  good  conductors  of  electricity ;  that  they  are 
also  good  conductors  of  heat  or  caloric,  is  evinced  by  the 
readiness  with  which  heat  is  transmitted  along  a  bar  of 
metal,  when  one  end  is  placed  in  the  fire.  They  mostly 
possess  elasticity  and  flexibility.  Many  of  them  have  a. 
peculiar  taste  and  smell,  both  of  which  are  disagreeable. 

If  when  in  a  state  of  fusion,  they  are  left  to  cool  slow- 
ly and  quietly,  all  the  metals  crystaiize  ;  and  most  of 
them  in  that  cane  assume  the  form  of  the  octohedron  ; 
which  also  is  the  form  assumed  by  most  of  those  which 
are  found  crystallized  in  the  pure  or  native  state. 

The  characters  of  fusibility  and  extensibility  in  metals 
is  of  vast  importance  to  man  ;  for  without  them  neither 
could  they  be  freed  from  the  earths  and  other  impurities 
with  which  they  are  naturally  united,  nor  wrought  into 
vessels  for  his  use. 

The  only  metals  known  to  the  ancients,  were  gold, 
silver,  copper,  iron,  tin,  lead  and  mercury ;  but  disco- 
veries have  from  time  to  time  increased  the  catalogue, 
until  it  has  been  swelled  to  the  number  of  twenty-seven, 
independently  of  those  which  have  very  lately  been  dis- 
covered as  the  bases  of  some  of  the  earths  and  the  two 
alkalies. 

Of  these  twenty-seven  metals,  eleven  only  have  the 
important  property  of  malleability,  or  of  being  sufficient- 
ly tenacious  to  bear  the  extension  of  their  body  by  bea- 
ting with  the  hammer;  the  others  have  by  some,  there* 
fore,  been  termed  brittle  metals. 

Malleable  Metals.  Brittle  Metals, 

Platina  Arsenic  Molybdena 

(jold  Anluno;iy  Tungsten 

Silver  Bismuth  Chrome 

Mercury  Cobalt  Osmium 

Lead  Manganere  Indium 

Copper  Tellurium  Rhodium 

Tin  Titanium  U.aniunj 

Iron  Taiitaliuui  Cerium 
Zinc 

Palladium 
Nickel 


XX  ITTIIODUCTION. 

A  lustre  is  peculiar  to  the  metals,  which  therefore  is 
called  the  metallic  lustre  :  another  remarkable  property 
is  their  want  of  transparency  when  in  the  mass;  but  a"s 
leaf  gold  held  between  the  eye  and  a  luminous  body 
transmits  a  green  Jigbt,  and  silver  a  white  light,  it 
seems  probable  that  other  metals,  if  attenuated  in  the 
same  degree,  would  also  be  translucent. 

The  only  metals  that  as  yet  have  been  found  in  the 
metallic  state,  are  platina,  gold,  silver,  quicksilver, 
copper,  antimony,  palladium,  arsenic,  tellurium,  bis- 
muth and  iron ;  these  are  then  termed  native  metals. 
But  the  greater  part  of  these  are  rarely  found  quite 
pure,  but  mostly  involve  small  proportions  of  other 
metals. 

A  metalliferous  ore  is  a  compound  of  two  or  more 
metals,  as  silver  amalgam;  or  of  a  metal  in  combination 
with  oxygen,  as  ruby  copper,  (whence  such  a  combina- 
tion has  obtained  the  name  of  a  metallic  oxide  ;)  or  a 
metal  (in  the  state  of  an  oxide)  combined  with  an  acid, 
as  the  arseniate  of  copper ;  or  a  metal  combined  with  a 
combustible,  as  sulphuretted  silver.  Many  ores  are  of 
so  compound  a  nature  as  to  consist  of  two  or  three 
metals  united  with  oxygen,  sulphur,  one  or  more  of  the 
earths,  and  with  water. 

When  a  metal  is  combined  with  one  or  more  substan- 
ces, either  combustible  or  saline,  it  is  then  said  to  be 
mineralised.  Thus  lead  is  said  to  be  mineralized  by 
sulphur  when  combined  with  it  in  the  native  sulphuret 
or  galena.  The  sulphur  is  the  mineralizer. 

It  deserves  notice  that  seven  of  the  malleable  metals, 
zinc,  tin,  lead,  iron,  copper,  nickel,  and  quicksilver, 
absorb  oxygen  from  the  common  air,  becoming  at  least 
externally  oxidated  :  none  of  them  part  with  the  oxygen 
by  simple  exposure  to  heat,  except  quicksilver.  Gold, 
silver  and  platina  only  become  oxidated  by  exposure  to 
the  action  of  certain  acids.  But  although  the  greater 
part  of  the  malleable  metals  are  readily  oxidable,  not 
one  of  them  has  yet  been  found  in,  or  converted  intotj, 
the  state  of  an  acid. 

All  the  brittle  metals  absorb  oxygen  by  exposure  to 
common  air,  and  thus  become,  at  least  externally,  oxi- 
dated. Four  of  them,  arsenic,  chrome,  molybdena 


INTRODUCTION.  XXI 

and  tungsten,  by  an  excess  of  oxidation,  pass  into  the 
state  of  acids,  and  in  this  state  they  are  found  to  he  the 
minerulizers  of  several  of  the  earths  and  of  the  metals. 

The  metals  and  metalliferous  ores  are  chiefly  found 
in  veins,  of  which  they  occasionally  compose  the  only 
substance ;  but  they  are  more  often  disseminated  in  veins, 
through  earthy  or  stony  substances  :  such  a  substance  is 
thence  termed  the  gangue  or  matrix  of  the  mineral. 
Metalliferous  ores  are  less  commonlly  found  in  masses 
or  in  beds :  a  few  of  them  occasionally  occur  imbedded 
in  certain  rocks. 

They  are  met  with  in  veins  traversing  almost  every 
kind  of  rock,  but  are  more  common  in  primitive  and  tran- 
sition rock?,  than  in  iiretz  rocks :  they  occur  but  spa- 
ringly in  alluvial  deposites,  and  more  rare  in  volcanic 
matter. 

The  comparative  age  of  the  metals  is  chiefly  judged 
of  by  the  nature  of  the  rocks  which  enclose  them.  Iron 
and  manganese  have  been  detected  by  every  analysis 
in  mica,  a  constituent  of  the  oldest  primitive  rock, 
granite  ;  tin  and  molybdena  occasionally  occur  imbedded 
in  it ;  they  also,  as  well  as  tungsten,  titanium,  cerium, 
uranium,  chrome,  and  bismuth,  are  found  almost  exclu- 
sively in  such  veins  as  traverse  the  oldest  of  the  primitive 
rocks  ;  the  foregoing  metals  may  therefore  be  consider- 
ed of  the  earliest  formation.  Arsenic,  cobalt,  silver, 
nickel,  and  copper,  are  presumed  to  be  less  ancient,  be- 
cause though  they  occur  in  the  oldest  primitive  rocks, 
they  are  also  found  in  newer.  Gold,  tellurium,  and  an- 
timony, are  considered  to  be  metals  of  a  middle  age,  as 
they  occur  in  the  newer  primitive  and  the  older  seconda- 
ry rocks.  Lead,  zinc,  and  mercury,  are  found  in  the 
greatest  quantity  in  secondary  formations  and  are  there- 
fore supposed  to  be  less  ancient  than  the  preceding. 
Platina,  palladium,  rhodium,  iridium,  and  osmium,  hav- 
ing never  been  found  in  situ,  it  is  impossible  properly 
to  judge  of  their  relative  age  ;  but  as  crude  platina  in- 
involves  small  portions  of  palladium,  rhodium,  iridium, 
and  osmium,  as  well  as  of  copper,  gold,  and  lead,  we 
may  conceive  them  to  be  of  a  middle  age,  and  shall 
therefore  in  the  following  series,  place  them  next  to  gold. 
In  respect  of  age,  therefore,  the  metals  may  be  ranked 


INTRODUCTION. 

as  follows,  and  we  shall  accordingly,  begin  the  descrip- 
tion of  metalliferous  ores  with  the  important  ores  of  iron : 

Iron  Chrome  Rhodium 

Manganese  Bismuth  «  smiuin 

Moiybdena  Arsenic  Indium 

rJ  in  Cobalt  Palladium 

Tungsten  Nickel  TeU'iritim 

Titinmm  Silver  Antimony 

Cerium  Copper  Lead 

Uranium  GoM  Zinc 

1  antalium  Platina  Mercury 

Iron  is  an  ingredient  in  almost  every  rock,  from  the 
oldest  primitive  to  the  newest  alluvial  ;  and  also  in  very 
many  earthy  and  metalliferious  minerals,  and  in  all  soils  : 
it  is  therefore  considered  to  be  the  most  abundant  and 
most  generally  diffused  of  all  the  metals.  Wherever 
found,  and  with  whatever  combined,-  it  is  mostly  in  the 
state  of  an  oxide,  except  when  combined  with  sulphur. 

Mangai  ese,  with  iron,  is  an  ingredient  of  mica,  which 
is  a  constituent  of  the  oldest  granite;  it  occurs  both  in 
the  primitive  and  secondary  countries. 

Moiybdena  may  be  reckoned  a  rare  metal :  it  is  occa- 
sionally found  imbedded  in  granite,  or  in  veins  passing 
through  it.  It  occurs  only  in  the  slate  of  an  acid  or  an  ox- 
ide, or  mineralized  by  sulphur. 

Tin  is  abundantly  and  almost  exclusively  found  in 
veins  passing  through  primitive  rocks,  chiefly  in  granite 
and  argillaceous  schistus.  Tin  is  always  in  the  state  of 
an  oxide  :  it  occurs  only  in  one  compound  metalliferous 
ore. 

Tungsten  is  by  no  means  a  plentiful  metal,  it  usually 
accompanies  tin  :  it  occurs  only  as  an  acid  combined 
with  iron,  or  as  an  oxide  combined  with  lime,  in  veins  in 
primitive  mountains. 

Titanium  occurs  chiefly  in  the  state  of  an  oxide,  and 
may  be  reckoned  a  rare  metal :  it  is  usually  combined 
with  iron,  sometimes  with  silex. 

Cerium  is  an  extremely  rare  metal. 

Uranium  is  also,  rare  :  it  occurs  chiefly  in  the  state  of 
an  oxide  in  primitive  veins. 

Tantalium  is  still  more  rare  :  it  occurs  in  the  state  of 
an  oxide  ;  in  one  of  its  ores  it  is  combined  with  iron,  in 
the  other  with  the  rare  earth  Yttria. 


INTRODUCTION.  XXlil 

Chrome  is  a  scarce  metal,  and  occurs  only  in  the  state 
of  an  acid,  mineralizing  lead  and  iron. 

Bismuth  is  not  a  common  metal ;  it  occurs  in  the  na- 
tive state,  also  mineralized  by  sulphur,  and  combined  in 
some  of  the  ores  of  silver,  and  of  cobalt. 

The  preceding  metals,  being  chiefly  found  in  the  old- 
est primitive  rocks,  are  considered  to  be  of  the  earliest 
formation  ;  the  succeeding  five  are  supposed  to  be  less 
ancient,  because  they  occur  both  in  the  oldest  primitive 
and  in  certain  of  the  secondary  rocks. 

•Arsenic  is  a  more  abundant  metal  than  most  of  the 
preceding  :  it  is  involved  in  small  portions  in  several  of 
the  native  metals,  in  all  the  ores  of  cobalt,  and  in  most 
of  those  of  silver. 

Cobalt  is  not  found  alloying  any  metal  ;  in  its  ores  it 
is  combined  with  iron  and  arsenic  ;  it  is  not  plentiful. 

Nickel  is  a  rare  metal :  it  occurs  as  an  oxide,  and  also 
combined  with  arsenic. 

Silver  is  a  somewhat  abundant  metal  ;  and  it  occurs  in 
greater  or  less  quantity  in  most  mineral  countries  :  in  the 
native  state,  it  occurs  in  veins  and  beds,  and  dessemina- 
ted  in  rocks  :  its  ores  are  numerous  ;  it  occurs  combined 
with  lead,  copper,  iron,  antimony,  tellurium,  gold,  quick- 
silver, and  arsenic,  and  mineralized  sulphur,  and  by  cer- 
tain acids. 

Copper  is  an  abundant  metal ;  it  occurs  in  the  native 
state  :  its  ores  are  numerous,  and  in  them  copper  is  com- 
bined with  iron,  sulphur,  silex,  oxygen,  and  certain  acids : 
it  occurs  in  most  mineral  countries. 

The  three  following  metals  are  found  in  the  newer 
primitive  and  older  secondary  rocks,  and  therefore  are 
metals  of  a  middle  age. 

Gold,  though  less  abundant  than  silver,  is  more  so  than 
most  of  the  preceding,  and  is  not  to  be  esteemed  a  rare 
metal ;  though  occasionally  met  with  in  veins,  it  is  chief- 
ly found  in  rivers  and  alluvial  deposites  :  it  occurs  from 
1  to  26  percent,  in  the  ores  of  tellurium,  and  sometimes 
in  small  portions  alloying  the  native  metals,  copper,  an- 
timony, platina,  and  arsenic. 

Tellurium  is  a  rare  metal :  it  occurs  in  the  native 
state,  but  mostly  is  alloyed  by  a  little  gold  :  io  its  ores  it 


XXIV  INTRODUCTION, 

is  combined  with  gold,  silver,  lead,  copper  and  sul- 
phur :  it  has  only  been  found  in  two  or  three  places. 

Platina  is  not  a  plentiful  metal  :  it  is  found  only  in 
certain  districts  in  America,  and  only  in  the  native  state ; 
alloyed  by  small  portions  of  gold,  lead,  copper,  iron, 
osmium,  iridium,  and  rhodium. 

Palladium  is  rare  ;  it  is  found  with  platina,  in  the  na- 
tive state,  alloyed  by  small  portions  of  platina  and  iri- 
dium. 

Iridium  and  Osmium  are  also  found  accompanying 
platina,  together  forming  an  alloy  ;  they  also  alloy  pla- 
tina, and  the  former  of  them,  palladium  :  they  are  both 
rare. 

Rhodium  is  found  only  alloying  the  platina  of  Peru, 
is  therefore  extremly  rare. 

Antimony  is  not  a  very  rare  metal :  it  occurs  in  the  na- 
tive state,  alloyed  by  small  portions  of  iron  and  silver: 
in  its  ores  it  is  combined  with  sulphur,  silex  and  oxygen  : 
it  occurs  in  few  mineral  districts. 

Lead  may  be  considered  as  the  most  abundant  and 
most  universally  diffused  metal  after  iron  :  it  never  is 
found  in  the  native  state,  but  its  ores  are  very  numerous : 
it  occurs  abundantly  mineralized  by  sulphur,  and  by 
certain  acids;  and  is  found  in  the  state  of  an  oxide  :  it 
occurs  in  certain  ores  of  tellurium. 

Zinc  is  not*  scarce  metal,  but  is  pretty  generally 
diffused  :  in  its  ores,  it  occurs  combined  with  sulphur, 
iron,  and  silex. 

Mercury  is  found  only  in  a  few  places,  but  is  not 
scarce  :  it  occurs  native  and  is  combined  with  silver, 
sulphur,  and  with  certain  acids. 

COMBUSTIBLES. 

Combustibles  form,  in  the  mineral  kingdom,  a  class  of 
substances,  having  peculiar  properties,  and  by  no  means 
agreeing  amongst  themselves  in  internal  or  external  cha- 
racters, and  differing  essentially  from  the  earths,  the  al- 
kalies, and  the  metals.  Combustibles  include  both  the 
hardest  and  the  softest  of  mineral  substances. 

Several  of  the  combustibles  are  found  in  a  liquid  state, 
some  of  these  are  translucent  and  even  transparent ;  but 


INTRODUCTION.  XXV 

the  greater  number  are  solid ;  when  solid  they  are  easily 
broken  ;  they  possess  neither  the  opacity,  brilliancy,  nor 
the  weight  of  metals,  being  rarely  more  than  twice  the 
weight  of  water ;  some  of  them  are  lighter  than  water. 

If  we  were  to  class  among  combustibles,  all  those  bo- 
dies whose  chemical  characteristic  is  that  they  will  en- 
dure combustion,  we  should  err,  because  many  of  the 
metals  have  that  character. 

Most  of  the  metals  whose  properties  are  altered  by  com- 
bustion, acquire  an  increase  of  weight  thereby  ;  whereas 
Combustible  substances  are  sensibly  diminished  in 
weight  by  the  same  process.  The  product  of  some  of 
them  is  liquid,  of  others  solid  ;  if  solid,  it  is  insoluble  ia 
water.  Combustibles  are  either  simple  or  compound. 

The  mineral  bases  of  combustible  substances  may  be 
said  to  be  only  two,  viz.  carbon  and  sulphur. 

The  purest  form  in  which  Carbon  is  seen,  is  that  of 
the  diamond ;  and  it  was  for  a  long  time  considered  that 
the  only  chemical  difference  between  this  gem  and 
charcoal  is,  that  the  latter  contains  some  oxygen,  and 
therefore  is  an  oxide  of  carbon.  But  the  late  experi- 
ments of  several  chemists,  and  particularly  of  Sir  H. 
'Davy,  tend  to  show  that  there  is  no  oxygen  in  pure  char- 
coal ;  and  that  there  is  no  decided  chemical  difference 
between  it  and  the  diamond.  Charcoal,  however,  always 
contains  either  hydrogen  or  water  in  very  small  and  va- 
riable proportions,  but  not  as  an  essential  ingredient : 
the  diamond  is  absolutely  free  from  hydrogen  and  wa- 
ter ;  and  it  is  in  this  respect  only,  and  in  the  mechanical 
arrangement  of  its  particles^  that  there  is  any  evidence 
of  its  differing  from  charcoal.  The  experiments  of  Allen 
and  Pepys  tend  to  prove  that  the  actual  quantity  of  car- 
bon, in  equal  weights  of  diamond  and  charcoal,  is  pre- 
cisely the  same. 

Carbon  forms  the  basis  of  several  of  the  combustibles, 
as  coal,  bitumen,  amber,  &c. ;  and  it  enters  into  the 
composition  of  a  few  minerals  in  small  proportion  :  in 
the  Aberthaw  limestone,  the  hepatite,  semi-opal  and  in 
clay  skte,  not  exceeding  1  or  2  per  cent. :  in  rotten 
stone  10  per  cent. ;  and  less  than  1  per  cent  in  com- 
pact manganese  :  its  most  important  mineral  character  is, 
that  it  forms  the  base  of  the  carbonic  acid,  which  enters 

*D 


INTRODUCTION. 

tnto  all  limestone  rocks,  as  an  ingredient,  in  the  propor- 
tion of  about  44  per  cent. :  carbonic  acid  consists  of 
about  28  per  cent  of  carbon  and  72  of  oxygen. 

Sulphur  was  suspected  by  Berthollet  to  contain  hydro- 
gen, and  this  suspicion  has  since  been  confirmed  by  Sir 
fi.  Davy  daring  the  career  of  his  brilliant  discoveries,  by 
trieans  of  the  application  of  the  astonishing  powers  of 
galvanism  or  electricity  to  many  bodies  which  here- 
tofore were  considered  to  be  simple  or  elementary. 
Some  experiments  of  the  same  able  chemist,  tended  to 
Evince  the  presence  of  oxygen  as  another  ingredient  of 
Sulphur  :  but  the  later  experiments  by  Guy  Lussac  have 
proved  that  oxygen  does  not  enter  into  its  composi- 
tion. 

Sulphur  is  not  only  itself  a  highly  inflammable  body, 
(but  is  also  an  ingredient  of  other  combustibles  ;  as  of 
certain  kinds  of  coal.  Large  deposites  of  sulphur  are  met 
with  in  some  volcanic  countries :  it  is  found  in  consider- 
able masses  or  in  beds,  both  in  primitive  and  transition 
Countries  ;  and  it  is  largely  involved  in  certain  minerals; 
such  as  iron,  copper,  lead,  antimony,  silver,  &c.  which 
thence  are  termed  sulphurets  of  those  metals,  and  which, 
generally  speaking,  are  the  most  abundant  of  all  metal- 
liferous ores  ;  and  it  is  met  with  in  one  earthy  mineral, 
the  Fahlunite,  in  the  proportion  of  17  per  cent.  Sul- 
phur is  the  base  of  the  sulphuric  acid  ;  which  consists 
of  40  per  cent,  of  sulphur  and  60  of  oxygen.  The  sul- 
phuric acid  enters  largely  into  the  composition  of  that 
abundant  substance,  sulphate  of  lime  or  gypsum  ;  and  is 
likewise  an  ingredient  of  several  other  earthy  minerals  5 
and  in  certain  metallic  ores. 


EXPLANATIONS  OF  TERMS 

Commonly  used  in  Mineralogical  Description. 


Acicular.    Long,  {lender,  and  ftraight  prifms,  or  cryftals,  are  termed  ad- 

cular,  from  the  latin,  acicula,  a  little  needle. 
••Aggregated.     A  mineral  or  rock  is  faid  to  be  aggregated,  when  the  feveral 

component  parts  only  adhere  together,  and  may  be   feparated   by 

mechanical  means  :   the  felfpar,  quartz,  and  mica,  conftituting  granite^ 

may  be  feparated  mechanically.     Granite  is  an  aggregated  rock. 
Alliaceous.     The  odour  given  out  by  arfenical   minerals,  when   expofed  to 

the  blowpipe  or  ftruck  by  the  hammer,  refembles  that  of  garlic  ;  in 

latin,  allium,  whence  alliaceous. 
Amorphous.     Without,   form  ;    of  undefinable  ihape  ;    from    the   Greeks 

afAo^os  (amorphos)  having  that  fignification.     Amorphous  minerals 

are  fometimes  defcribed   as  being  of  indeterminate,  or   indefinite 

forms. 
Anhydrous,  from  the  Greek  eivufyof  (anudros),  fignifying  without  water  : 

anhydrous  gypfum  is  without  water.      * 
Arborescent.    From  the  Latin,  arboresco,  to  'grow  like  a  tree  :  fee  Den- 

dritic. 


BotryoidaL       From  the  Greek,  Porgvudyis    (botruodes)  fignifying, 

with  clufters  of  grapes  or  berries.  So  a  mineral  prefenting  an  ag- 
gregation of  large  fections  of  numerous  fmall  globes,  is  termed  bo- 
tryoidal  ;  but  when  the  globes  are  larger,  and  the  portions  are  lefs 
and  feparate,  the  appearance  is  expreffed  by  the  term  mamillated, 
Thefe  forms  may  be  obferved  in  certain  ores  of  cobalt,  copper,  and 
manganefe,  and  often  in  chalcedony. 

BladeS.  This  term  relates  chiefly  to  the  ftructure  of  fuck  minerals  as,  oi> 
being  broken,  prefent  long  flat  portions,  fomewhat  refembling  tha 
blade  of  a  knife  ;  this  appearance  may  in  general  be  confidered  as 
the  effect  of  interrupted  cryftallization. 

Brittle.  This  character  of  mineral  bodies  does  not  depend  upon  theu! 
hardnefs  ;  thofe  of  which  the  particles  cohere  in  the  higheft  degree, 
and  are  immovable  one  among  another,  are  the  moft  brittle.  The 
diamond,  quartz,  fulphate  of  barytes  and  fulphur,  vary  greatly  as  to 
hardnefs  ;  they  are  all  brittle. 

£analiculated  :  prefenting  deep  channels  on  the  furface,  refulting  eithet 
from  interrupted  cryftallization,  or  the  aggregation  of  numerous  cryfi 

tals. 


SXV111  EXPLANATION    OP   TERMS. 

Capillary,  is  derived  from  the  Latin,  capillus,  a  hair,  and  is  chiefly  uied 
to  exprefs  the  long,  tortuous,  hair- like  appearances,  to  be  cbferved 
in  native  gold  and  filver,  and  fome  other  minerals.  Cryftals  arc 
fometimes  termed  capillary,  when  long  and  flender ;  but  being  moft- 
ly  ftraight,  they  are  more  properly  defignated  by  the  term  aci- 
cular. 
Cavernous.  A  mineral  in  which  there  are  confiderable  hollows  or  cavitic^ 

is  faid  to  be  cavernous. 

Cellular.  This  term  is  ufed  by  Werner  in  the  defcription  of  fuch  minerals 
as  exhibit  cells  formed  by  the  crofling-  and  inteifecting  of  the  lamina; 
or  lamella  of  which  they  are  conltituted  :  commonly,  any  mineral 
prcfenting  numerous  fmall  cells  or  cavities,  is  te»med  cellular ;  lee  ve- 
Ccular.  */'.' 

Chatoyant,  has  been  adopted  from  the  French,  who  ufe  it  to  exprefs  the 
changeable  light  refembling  that  to  be  obferved  in  the  eye  of  a  cat,  to 
be  feen  in  certain  minerals ;  as  in  the  Cat's  eye. 

Cleavage.  This  term  is  moft  commonly  ufed  in  relarion  to  the  fracture  of 
thofe  mineral^  which,  having  natural  joints  poflcfs  a  regular  ftructure 
and  may  be  cleaved  into  geometrical  fragments  ;  as  into  varieties  of 
the  parallelopiped,  the  rhomboid,  &c. 

C.oberent.  This  term  relates  to  Itructure.  In  minerals  that  are  brittle,  the 
particles  are  flrongly  coherent ;  in  fuch  as  are  friable,  they  are  flight- 
ly  coherent. 

Columnar  distinct  concretions,  is  commonly  ufed  to  exprefs  the  great  and 
fmall  columns  in  which  certain  bafalts  and  iron  ores  are  found  :  but 
Werner  includes  under  this  term  all  the  columnar  appearances  in 
every  mineral  confiding  of  numerous  aggregated  cryftals,  which  rea- 
dily divide  into  long  and  narrow  portions  »f  irregular  form,  owing  to 
.<£  interrupted  cryitallization— fuch  as  the  amethyft,  pyrites,  fluor  fpar, 

quartz,  &c. 

Compact,  is  a  term  which  relates  wholly  to. ftructure;  and  is  that  in  which 
no  particular  or  diftinct  parts  are  difcernible ;   a  compact  mineral 
cannot  be  cleaved  or  divided  into  regular  or  parallel  portions.     The 
term  compact  is  too  often  confounded  with  the  term  maffive. 
Gencboidal,  relates  only  to  fracture  ;  and  is  doubtlefs  derived  from  the  La- 
tin, chonchoides,  fignifying  Like  the  fhell  of  a  fifli.     Fragments  of 
many  of  the  brittle  minerals  exhibit  this  appearance,  and  occafionaily 
in  great  perfection,  as  quartz  and  fulphur ;  the  fracture  of  compact 
minerals  is  frequently  more  or  lefs  perfectly  chonchoidal. 
Concretion,  generally  fignifies  a  fmall  and  diilinct  m;ifs. 
Goralloidal,  refembJing  branches  of  coral. 

Cuneiform,  wedge  fhaped ;  cuneus,  ia  Latin,  fignifies  a  wedge.  This  term 
relates  only  to  fracture. 

Decomposed.  This  term,  when  ufed  ftrictly  in  a  mineralogical  fenfe,  imports 
the  decompofition  which  takes  place  naturally  in  any  fubftance.  Cer- 
tain ores  of  Iron,  &c.  in  which  fulphur  predominates  in  an  unufual 
degree,  decompofe  by  expofure  to  air. 

Decrepitate.  A  mineral  is  faid  to  decrepitate  on  expofure  to  heat,  when 
it  flies  with  a  crackling  noife  fimilar  to  that  made  by  fait  when 
thrown  into  the  fire. 

Dendritic',  derived  from  the  Greek,  Sivtyns  (dendritis)  fignifying,  like 
the  growth  of  a  tree.  The  terms  arborefcent  and  dendritic  are 
ufed  fynonymoufly ;  they  are  alike  applied  to  the  tree-like  appear- 
ance in  which  native  filver  and  native  copper  are  fometimes  iound  ; 
to  the  delineations  fcen  on  the  furfaces  of  certain  minerals  j  and 
tot  the  appearance  in  the  raocha-ftone,  &c. 


EXPLANATION    OF   TERMS. 

Dentiform,  or  Dentated  ;  in  the  fliape  of  teeth  ;  dens  being  the  LallfS 
for  a  tooth. 

Disseminated.  When  a  mineral,  whether  cryftallized  or  otherwife,  is 
found  here  and  there  imbedded  in  a  mafs  of  another  fubftance,  it 
is  faid  to  be  diffeminated  in  the  mafs.  Cryftals  of  quartz  fometimes 
occur,  difleminated  in  Carrara  marble,  &c. 

Disintegrated.  This  term  is  generally  ufed  to  exprefs  the  falling  to  pieces 
of  any  mineral,  without  any  perceptible  chemical  action. 

Diverging,  or  Divergent  ;  relates  to  the  ftructure  of  a  mineral.  When 
the  ftructure  is  fibrous,  and  the  fibres  are  not  parallel,  they  ufual- 
ly  diverge  in  part,  but  not  wholly,  around  a  common  centre  ;  as 
in  certain  zeolites,  and  haematites  iron  ores. 

Britsy>  has  been  adopted  from  the  German  term  drufen,  for  which  we 
nave  no  Englifli  s\  ord.  The  furface  of  a  mineral  is  faid  to  be 
drufy  when  compofed  of  very  fmall  prominent  cryftals,  nearly  &• 
qual  to  each  other  ;  it  is  often  feen  in  iron  pyrites. 


A  mineral  which,  after  being  bent,  fprings  back  to  its  origi* 
nal  form,  is  elaftic.  Mica  is  elaftic  ;  talc,  which  greatly  referable* 
mica,  is  only  flexible. 

Earthy.    This  term  relates  to  ftructure.     Chalk  and  certain  of  the  Ojres 
of  iron  and  lead  are  notable  iiiftances  of  it. 


fasciculated.  When  a  number  of  minute  fibres  or  acicular  cryftals  QC- 
cur  in  fmall  aggregations  or  bundles,  they  are  faid  to  be  fafcicu- 
luted  ;  a  term  doubtlefs  derived  from  the  Latin,  fafcis,  a  bundle.. 
This  appearance  often  occurs  in  green  carbonate  aad  arfeniate  of 
copper. 

fibrous.  This  term  relates  both  to  form  and  ftructure.  Certain  mine- 
rals, as  amianthus,  amianthiform  arfeniate  of  copper,  a  variety  oil 
gypfum,  &c.  occur  in  ^iftinct  fibres.  Asbeftus,  gypfum,  red  hae- 
matites iron  ore,  &c.  are  found  maflive,  and  of  a  parallel  fibrous 
ftructure  :  fome  varieties  of  red  hasmatkes  and  other  minerals  are 
of  a  radiating  fibrous  ftructure :  and  the  fibres  diverge  from  a 
common  centre. 

filament.  A  mineral  is  faid  to  occur  in  filaments,  when  it  is  found  in 
flender  thread-like  or  hair- like  portions.  It  is  therefore  nearly 
fynonymous  with  the  term  capillary. 

orm^  is  ufed  in  the  fame  fenfe  as  the  preceding ;  but  Werner  con- 
fines its  ufe  to  exprefs  the  appearance  of  certain  metals  which 
occur  in  the  form  of  wire,  as  native  filver  and  native  copper*— 
Filum  in  Latin,  fignifies  thread  ;  filum  rnetalli,  wire. 

fistuliform.  Minerals  occurring  in  round  hollow  columns,  are  termed 
fiftuliform ;  fiftula,  in  the  Latin,  fignifies  a  pipe.  Stalactites  and 
iron  pyrites  occur  fiftuliform. 

flexible.  Talc  is  flexible;  it  readily  bends,  but  does  not  return  of 
itfelf  to  its  original  form.  Mica  is  both  flexible  and  elaftic. 

foliated.  ^  This  term,  which  doubtlefs  is  derived  from  j(he  Latin  foliatus, 
having,  or  confifting  of  leaves,  is  ufed  by  Werner  to  exprefs  the 
ftructure  of  all  minerals  that  may  be  divided  or  cleaved  regularly, 
and  are  therefore  by  him  faid  to  confift  of  folia  or  leaves.  The 
ftructure  of  fuch  minerals  is  more  commonly  exprefied  by  the 
term  lamellar ;  and  they  are  faid  to  confift  of  lameUw  or  I?- 

r"Tn.T>. 

*D2 


XXK  EXPLANATION    OF    TERMS. 

Fracture,,  is  a  term  now  chiefly  employed  in  defignating  the  appearance 
of  minerals  which  have  no  regular  ftructure,  when  they  are  broken: 
fuch  minerals  prefent  an  even,  uneven,  or  a  chonchoidal  fracture 
&c. 

frangible.  The  term  frangibility  has  relation  to  the  fufceptibility  ot 
minerals  to  feparate  into  fragments  by  force  :  this  quality  in  mi- 
nerals is  not  dependent  on  their  hardnefs ;  the  ftructure  of  fome 
and  the  brittlenefs  of  others,  renders  them  eafily  frangible  ;  while 
others,  which  from  their  foftnefs,  and  the  eafe  with  which  their 
particles  or  molecules  yieid  or  flide  over  one  another,  are  much 
more  difficulty  frangible  ;  fuch  minerals  poffefs  the  character  of 
toughnefs.  Quartz  is  eafily  broken,  Asbeftus  is  tough. 

friable.  A  mineral  whofe  portions  or  particles  flightly  cohere,  and  which 
is  therefore  eafily  crumbled  or  broken  down,  is  faid  to  be  friable,  or 
in  a  friable  ft  ate. 

Funglform.  Certain  fubftances,  as  for  inftance  calcareous  ftalactites,  are 
occafionally  met  with  having  a  termination  fimilar  to  the  head 
of  a  fungus ;  whence  they  are  fai4  to  be  fungiform. 

<$angue,  Gangart,  We  have  thefe  terms  from  the  Germans ;  the  ganguc 
of  a  mineral,  is  the  fubftance,  in,  or  upon  which,  a  mineral  is  found  ; 
it  is  fometimes  termed  the  matrix.  Silver,  occuring  in,  or  upon 
carbonate  of  lime,  is  faid  to  have  carbonate  of  lime  for  its  gangucv 
or  matrix. 

Geode.  This  alfo  we  derive  from  the  Germans.  A  geode  is  a  hollow 
ball  ;  at  Oberftein  in  Saxony  are  found  hollow  balls  of  agate  lined 
with  cryftals  of  quartz  or  amethyft,  which  are  termed  geodes. 

Glance  is  alfo  a  German  word  meaning  Ihining  ;  thus  we  have  glance- 
coal,  copper-glance,  &c. 

Globular  distinct  concretion  is  ufed  to  exprefs  the  character  of  a  mineral 
which  occurs  in  little  round  or  roundish  mafles  ;  the  Pea-Hone  and 
Roe-ftone  are  examples  of  it. 

Granular.  The  ftructure  of  a  mineral  is  faid  to  be  granular,  when  it  ap- 
pears to  conlift  of  small  grains  or  concretions  ;  which  fometimes  can, 
fometimes  cannot,  be  difcerned  without  the  help  of  a  glafs  ;  we  have 
therefore  the  fine  granular,  and  the  coarfe  granular  ftructure. 

Greasy  is  ufed  in  relation  to  luftre  :  fat  quartz  has  a  greafy  luftre. 

Hackly.  This  term  relates  to  a  fracture  which  is  peculiar  to  the  malleable 
metals ;  which,  when  fractured,  prefent  ftiarp  protruding  points. 

Haematites  is  derived  from  the  Greek  a^ar/Tv?,  fignifying  blood-red  ;  it  was 
firft  applied  by  mineralogifts  to  the  variety  of  iron  ore  which  is  now 
called  the  Red  Haematites;  but  has  fince  been  extended  to  other  iron 
ores  of  the  fame  ftructure,  but  differing  in  colour.  We  have  alfo 
brown  haematites,  and  black  haematites  iron  ore. 

A  term  derived  from  the  Latin,  hepar,  the  liver  ;  it  is  applied 
either  to  colour  or  form.  We  have  hepatic  pyrites,  hepatic  quick - 
filver ;  the  hepatite. 

Hydrate  i»  derived  from  the  Greek  i/J<w£,  (udor)  water ;  and  is  applied  to 
certain  of  those  minerals  (as  the  hydrate  of  magnefa)  o£  which  water 
forms  an  ingredient  in  very  large  proportion. 

Imbedded.  A  mineral  found  in  a  mafs  of  another  fubftance,  is  laid  to  be 
imbedded  in  it.  Crytallized  quartz  occurs  imbedded  in  Carrara 
marble.  It  alfo  occurs  partly  imbedded  in  other  fubftances,  as  iu 


EXPLANATION  OF  TE11MS.  XXXl 

Indeterminate.  Indefinite.  Thefe  terms  are  ufed  fynonimoufly  with  Amor* 
phous  in  describing  minerals  which  have  no  particular  or  definable 
form.  Cryftals  of  which  the  form  cannot  be  accurately  afcertained, 
are  faid  to  be  of  indeterminate  forms. 

•frrcrustir.v  :  any  fubftance  covered  by  a  mineral,  is  fometimes  faid  to  be 
incrufted  by  it  :  thus  the  various  articles  which  are  placed  for  a  cer- 
tain length  of  time  in  certain  fprings  or  wells  in  Derbyshire,  &c.  and 
which  are  by  fotne  fupposed  to  be  converted  into  petrifactions,  arc 
only  incrufted  with  calcareous,  or  argillaceous  matter. 

Interlacing.  Interlaced.  When  the  fibres  or  cryftals  of  a  mineral  are  found 
intermingling  with  each  other  in  various  directions,  they  are  interla- 
cing or  interlaced. 

Investing.  A  mineral  fpread  upon,  or  covering  another,  is  fometimes  de3<, 
cribed  as  inverting  it. 

Irridescent.  This  term  relates  only  to  the  various  colours  with  which  the. 
furfaces  of  fome  metalliferous  minerals  are  naturally  tarnifhed  :  as« 
yellow  copper  ore,  iron  pyrites,  galena,  fulphuret  of  antimony,  &c. 

Liimdlar ;  this  term  relates  to  ftructure  :  when  a  mineral  can  be  fractured 
or  cleaved  into"  regular  and  parallel  plates  or  lamina;,  its  ftructure  is 
faid  to  be  lamellar  ;  and  the  portions  thus  obtained  are  termed  lami- 
nae or  lamellse  ;  thefe  terms  have  been  adopted  from  the  Latin,  in 
which  they  were  almoft  fynonimously  ufed  to  exprefs  thin  plates  of 
any  fuhftance. 

Lamellar  distinct  concretions.  This  term  is  fometimes  ufed  to  exprefs  the 
ftructure  of  certain  minerals  (as  the  oxide  of  uranium)  confifting  of 
lamina?  which  cohere  but  flightly. 

Laraelliforni.     A  mineral  confifting  of  lamellae,  is  faid  to  be  lamelliform. 

Laminx,  Lamella.     See  Lamellar. 

Lenticular  is  employed  to  exprefs  the  forms  of  certain  cryftals  which  are 
nearly  flat,  and  convex  above  and  beneath  ;  and  which  confequently 
refemble  u  common  lens. 

Malleability.  Some  of  the  metals  suffer  extenfion  when  beaten  with  a^ 
hammer ;  and  are  therefore  termed  malleable  metals.  Native  gold 
and  native  filver  are  very  malleable  metals. 

Mamillated.     See  Botryoidal. 

JWassive.  This  term  is  fometimes  ufed  in  defcribing  a  fubftance  of  inde- 
terminate form,  whatever  may  be  its  internal  ftructure  ;  but  is  more, 
commonly  ufed  in  contra-diftmction  to  the  term  cryftallized,  as  appli- 
ed to  thole  minerals  which  poffefs  regular  internal  ftructure,  without 
any  particular  external  form. 

Matrix.     See  Gangue. 

Meagre.  This  term  relates  to  the  touch  or  feel  of  a  mineral,  k  belongs 
chiefly  to  fome  of  thofe  minerals  which  are  of  an  earthy  texture. 
Chalk  is  remarkably  meagre  to  the  touch. 

Natural  joints.  Such  minerals  as  can  be  broken  into  regular  forms,  as  the 
cube,  rhomboid,  &c.  can  be  cleaved  into  thofe  forms,  only  in  the  di- 
rection of,  or  along,  their  natural  joints.  In  fome  minerals  however, 
which  have  not  yet  been  regularly  cleaved,  the  natural  joints  are  per- 
ceptible by  the  afliftance  of  a  ftrong  light. 

reous  relates  to  luftre ;  and  is  employed  to  exprefs  the  luftre  of  fome 
minerals  (as  of  the  pearl  spar)  which  greatly  refembles  that  of  pearl. 
Nacre  de  Perle,  in  French,  fignifies  Mother  of  PearL 

v\ 


XXXH  EXPLANATION  OF  TERil. 

A  mineral  which  prefcnts  irregularly  globular  elevations,  is 
termed  Nodular.     Flint  is  found  in  nodular  maffes. 

Thofe  minerals  arc  opake  which  do  not  tranfaiit  a  perceptible  ray 
of  light  even  through  the  thinucil  and  fmalleft  pieces. 

gdss  into.  One  mineral  is  faid  to  pafs  into  another,  when  both  are  found  fo 
blended  in  the  fame  fpecmien,  that  it  is  impossible  to  decide  where 
the  one  terminates,  and  the  other  begins.  Flint  is  found  paffing  into 
chalcedony. 

Pectinated.  If  a  mineral  exhibit  fhort  filaments,  cryftals,  or  branches  which 
are  nearly  equidiftant,  it  is  pectinated  ;  pecten,  in  Latin,  fignifies  4 
comb. 

Jforous.  A  mineral  is  faid  to  be  porous,  when  it  is  traverfed  in  difs 
ferent  directions  with  communicating  holes  which  pafs  through  thjj 
fubftance. 

Psfudomorfhous.  Minerals  exhibiting  impreffions  of  the  forms  peculiar  to 
the  cryftals  of  other  fubftances  are  faid  to  be  pfeudomorphous.  Quartz 
exhibiting  cryftais  in  the  form  of  the  cube  ;  calamine,  fuch  as  are  pe- 
culiar to  carbonate  of  lime,  &c.  are  termed  pfeudomorphous:  ifawtf, 
in  Greek,  fignifies  falfe  ;  f*o{$vt  form  or  figure  :  fometimes  they  art 
fecondary  cryftals. 

JPulverulent.  When  the  particles  of  a  mineral  are  very  minute  and  cohere 
very  flightly,  or  uot  at  all,  it  is  faid  to  be  pulverulent;  or  in  the  pul- 
verulent ftate. 


,~,,d ;  radiatus,  in  Latin,  fignifies  befet  with  rays  :  when  the  cryftals 
of  a  mineral  are  fa  difpoied  as  to  diverge  from  a  centre,  they  are  faid 
to  be  radiated. 

Jt'Ufnose ;  ramus,  in  Latin,  fignifies  the  branch  of  a  tree  ;  a  mineral  having 
that  appearance  is  defcribed  as  being  ramofe. 

Refractoriness.  This  term  is  ufed  both  chemically  and  mechanically  in 
relation  to  minerals.  It  is  fometimes  applied  to  thofe  which  ftrongly 
refift  the  application  of  heat ;  and  occafionally  to  fome  whofc  tpugh- 
nefs  enables  them  to  refill  repeated  blows. 

Rtniform.     Kidney-  fhaped  ;  ren,  in  Latin,  fignifies  kidney. 

Retiform,  Reticulated.  Minerals  occuring  in  parallel  fibres,  croffed  at  right 
angles  by  other  fibres  which  alfo  are  parallel,  exhibit  fquares,  like  the 
mefh.es  of  a  net.  Retis,  in  Latin,  fignifies  a  net.  We  have  reticulated 
native  fiiver,  native  copper,  red  oxide  of  copper,  &c.  And  it  may  bt; 
remarked  that  fuch  minerals  as  occur  reticulated,  generally  affume  the 
cube,  as  ona  of  their  cryftalline  forms. 


.  If  a  number  of  minute  cryftals  or  fibres  are  clofely  aggregated 
into  a  little  bundle,  with  the  appearance  of  diverging  from  a  common 
centre,  they  are  faid  to  be  fcopiform.  Scopa  in  Latin  fignifies  a  broom 
or  befom. 

Sibistose  structure.  Minerals  which  fplit  only  in  one  direction,  and  prefent 
fragments  which  are  parallel,  but  of  unequal  thicknefs,  which  alfo 
are  not  fmooth  and  even,  and  are  without  luftre,  are  faid  to  poffefs  u 
fchiftofe  ftructure.  Schift  in  the  German  fignifies  flate. 
lf.  This  term  relates  to  ftruccure,  and  is  derived  from  the  Latin,  feeo, 
to  cut.  Thofe  minerals  are  termed  ftctile  which  are  midway  between 
the  brittle  and  the  malleable.  A  fiice  or  portion  cut  from  a  fcctilc 

' 


OY  TtllMS. 

mineral,  is  fragile,  and  the  new  furface  on  the  mafs  is  fmooth  and  lhi» 
ning.     Plumbago  and  the  foapftone  are  both  fectile. 
'Semi-transparent.    A  mineral  is  faid  to  be  femi-tranfparent  when  an  object 

is  not  diftinctly  feen  through  it-. 
'Slaty-structure.    This  term  is  fynonimous  with  Schiftofe  ftructure,  whidi 

fee. 

Specific  Gravity.  The  fpecifie  gravity  of  minerals  is  determined  by  com- 
parifon.  The  ufual  mode  of  determining  it,  is  by  weighing  them  ill 
pure  diftilled  water ;  the  weight  of  which  is  affumed  to  be  one  of 
unit.  Earthy  minerals  vary  from  twice,  or  lei's  than  twice,  to  nearly  . 
five  times  the  weight  of  diftilled  water.  Metalliferous  ores  and  na- 
tive metals  vary  from  five  to  feventeen  times  its  weight  ;  some  mU 
nerals,  efpecially  fome  of  the  combuftiblcs,  are  lighter  than  water, 
and  are  of  courfe  fupernatant. 

'Ffecular  Minerals  are  thofe  which  prefent  one  fmooth  and  brilliant  fur- 
face  which  reflects  light.     We  have  fpecular  red  iron,  fpecular  iron 
pyrites,   &c.     Thcfe  are  laid  always  to  occur  clofe  to  the  walls  or 
or  (ides  of  veins.     Speculum,  in  .Latin,  fignifies  a  looking  glafs. 
'Spicular  and  Splintery  Fracture  belong  to  minerals  of  an  imperfectly  cryftal* 
line  form.     Thefe  fractures  do  not  greatly  differ  :    they   are   both 
irregular  ;  the  fpicular  is  fhorter  and  more  pointed  than  the  fplintery, 
$talactitrform.     sra*.u,yp,K,  (ftalagma)  in  the  Greek,  fignifies   a  drop,  pu»l', 

icicle.     Stalacthilorm  minerals  greatly  refemble  icicles  in  (haps. 
-Stellated.  When  the  ftructure  of  a  mineral  i«  fibrous,  and  the  fibres  diverge' 
all  round  a  common  centre,  its  ftructure  is  faid  to  be  ftellated :  flella^ 
in  Latin,  fignifies  a  flat. 

'Stria,  Striated.  The  flight  channels  occafionally  obfervable  on  the  planes.- 
of  cryftallized  minerals  are  termed  ftriaj,  and  the  cryftals  on  which 
they  are  feen  are  faid  to  be  ftriated.  The  ftrix  are  commonly 
parallel  and  generally  indicate  tke  direction  in  which  cryftals  may  be 
cleaved.  Stria,  in  Latin,  fignifies  a  groove,  or  channel. 
Structure.  This  term  relates  to  the  internal  characters  of  minerals.  Such 
as  can  be  cleaved  into  regular  forms,  prefenting  fmooth,  brilliant, 
and  parallel  furfaces,  are  laid  to  have  a  cryftalline  ftructure  ;  but 
when  the  furfaces  are  neither  fmooth  nor  parallel,  and  when,  on  th<i 
contrary,  they  are  rough  and  curved  or  undulating,  the  ftructure  is 
faid  to  be  imperfectly  cryitallir.c :  under  \vhich  term  a!fo  may  be 
comprehended  all  fibrous  minerals  whether  maflive  or  not.  All 
fuch  as  have  no  determinute  ftructure,  as  thofe  minerals  which  arc 
granular,  fplintcry,  &c.  or  compact,  may  be  included  under  the 
term  indefinite  or  promifcuous  ftructure. 

•Supernatant.  Such  minerals  as  are  lighter  than  water,  and  confequently 
fwim  upon  it,  are  faid  to  be  fupernatuut,  Supernato,  in  Latin,  fig- 
nifies to  fwim  or  float  upon.  "  .  » 

Tabular.  When  this  term  is  ufed  in  relation  to  ftrucfure  it  is  nearly  allied 
to  the  fchiftofc  or  flaty.  Talc,  mica  and  roofing  Hate  are  defcribed  by 
Werner  as  poffefling  a  tabular  ftructure.  This  term  fometimea  is 
ufed  to  exprefs  the  external  form  of  cryflals:  fuch  as  are  nearly 
flat,  and  whofe  length  and  breadth  are  nearly  the  fame,  are, 
fometimes  called  tabular  cryftals  :  from  the  Latin,  tabula,  a  table 
or  board. 

Toughness  relates  to  internal  ftructure.  Thofe  minerals  which  are  bruised, 
or  fuffer  depreflion,  by  repeated  blows  in  the  attempt  to  fracturo 
them,  are  efteemcd  to  be  tough. 

^*e 


J£ 

EXPLANATION  OF  TERMS* 

A  mineral  through  which  an  object  cannot  be  fecft,  but 
which  tranfmits  fome  light,  is  termed  tfanflucent.  Rock  fait,  fome- 
times quartz,  flint  and  fluor,  &c.  are  tranflucent :  many  minerals 
are  tranflucent  on  the  edges,  as  common  marble,  &c. 

Thofe  minerals  arc  tranfparcnt  through  which  an  object 
may  be  clearly  feen. 

^Tubercular.  A  mineral  whofe  unerennefs  of  furface  arifes  from  fmall 
and  fomewhat  round  elevations,  is  laid  to  be  turbercuhr.  i-'lint  ift 
fometimes  tubercular. 

'tuberous  :  exhibiting  fomewhat  circular  knobs,  or  elevations. 

'Tabular  :   See  fiiluliform. 

Vesicular.  A  mineral  is  laid  to  be  veficular,  when  it  has  fmall  and  fome- 
what round  cavities,  both  internally  and  externally.  Lava,  pumice, 
limeftone,  bafalt,  &c.  arc  fometimes  veficular :  from  the  Latin, 
vcficula,  a  little  bladder. 

Vttreout ;  from  the  Latin,  vitreus,  glaffy  ;  minerals  having  the  luilrc 
of  glafs,  are  faid  to  pofiefs  the  vitreous  luftre. 

Unctuous.  The  term  relates  to  the  touch.  Pipe  clay  is  fomewhat  unc- 
tuous :  Fullers'  earth  is  unctuous  :  plumbago  and  foapftone  ire  very 
unctuous. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS, 

Showing  the  order  in  which  the-  Minerals  comprehended 
the  following  pages  have  been  described* 


CONTENTS. 

This  Table  (hews  the  order  in  which  the  Minerals,  comprehended  in  the 
following  pages,  have  been  defcribed.  The  whule  number  of  ingre- 
dients, in  each  compound  mineral,  are  not  noticed  in  this  table.  In  SI- 
LEX,  &c.  the  &c.  relates  to  the  fmali  portions  of  oxide  of  iron,  oxide 
of  manganefe,  or  water,  which  many  of  them  contain.  The  complete 
analyfis  is  included  in  the  riefcription, 

EARTHY  MINERALS. 

SILEX,  i. 

SILEX,  &c Quartz,  a 

Amethyft,  3 
Prafe,  4 
Chryfoprafe,  4 
Avanturine,  4 
Hyalite,  6 
Opal,  7 

.     ,  ,  Alumint^  &c,      ....     Hydrophane,  8 

Menilite,  8 
"Flint,  9 
Chalcedony,  10 

Mocha  ftone 

Carnelian 

Sard 

Agate 

Onyx 

Sardonyx 

Plafma 

Heliotrope 
Cimolite,  12 
Black  Chalk,  13 
Almandine,  13 

.     .  ,  Lime,  &c Tabular  fpar,  14 

Jenite,  14 
&c.     .     ,     .       Steatite,  15 

Bronzite,  16 

.  ,  Alumine,  Lime,  &c.     .    .    Laumonite,  16 
Dipyre,   17 
Stilbite,  17 
Cat's  eye,  18 
Prehnite,  18 
Zoyfite,  19 
Idocrafe,  20 
Garnet,  21 
Cinnamonftone,  »a 
Tripoli,  22 
Bole,  23 
Clay,   24 
Porcellanite,  26 
Melanite,  26 
Aplomc,  27 
Thallite,  27 


CONTENTS.       EARTHY    MINERALS. 


SILEX,  Alumine,  Lime,  &c 


.      .  i  Magncfia,  &c.       .     . 

.   ,  Barytes,  &c.     ,     . 
Lime,  Magtiejia,  &c.     .     .     . 


,  Alumine,  Lime,  Magnesia,  &c. 


Potash 


,       .     .  ,  Soda,  &c.     ..    .     . 
,       .     .  ,  Potash,  Soda,  &C.    . 
,  Magnesia,  Potash,  &c.       . 
,  Alumine,  Lime,  Potash,  &C. 


,       ..,..,  Soda,  &C. 


.     .  ,      .     .  ,  Magntsia,  Potath,  &c. 


.     .  ,  .     .    ,     .  .   ,  .      .   ,  Soda,  &C.     . 
.     .  , .     .  ,  Lime,  Magnesia,  Seda,  &C. 


Wernerite,  28 
Tourmaline,  a8 
Aximte,  29 
Allochroite,  30^ 
Lapis  Lazuli,  31 
Egytiar  Jafucr,  31 
Harmotome,  34 
Tremolite,  32 
Anthophyllite,  33 
Meerfchaum,  30^ 
Afbeftus,  34 
Bafaltic  Hornblende,  36 
Hyperfthene,  36 
Schiller  fpar,  37 
Augire,  37 
Pyrope,  39 
Potftone,  39 
Smaragdite,  40 
Adtinolite,  40 
Colophonite,  41 
Leucite,  41 
Lithomarga,  41 
Mica,  4z 
Mefotype,  43 
Rubellite,  44 
Pumice,  44 
Ichthyophthalmite,  45 
Talc,  45 
Green  Earth,  46 
Spodumene,  47 
Fclfpar,  47 
Scaly  Talc,  49 
Pearlftone,  50 
Agalmatolite,  50 
Lepidolite,  51 
Obfidian,  51 
Haiiyne,  53 
Analcime,  54 
Lava,  54 
Pitchftone,  55 
Clinkftone,  56 
Sodalite,  56 
Chabafie,  57 
Fettftein,  57 
Scapolite,  58 
Jade,  58 
Soapftone,  59 
Chlorite  60 
Schorl,  6 1 
Clay-flate,  6z 
Gabronite,  61 
Fuller's  Earth,  63 
Bafalt,  64 


CONTENTS.       EARTHT  MINERALS. 


The  following  eight  substances  have  not  been  analyzed,  but  are  generally  asstcie~ 
ted  ivith  those  ef 'which  the  principal  ingredient  is  SILEX. 
Hornftone,  67 
Chiaftohte,  68 
Spinchane,  62 
Melilite,  68 
Wacke,  69 
Shale,  69 
Flinty-flate,  71 
Whet-flate,  7* 
ALUM1NE,  73 

.    .     . ,  &c .     .    .    Corundum,  74 

Oriental  Ruby, 

Saphire 

Emery 

.     .     . ,  Si/ex,  &c Fibrolite,  76 

Rottenftone,  77 
Pinite,  77. 
Cyanite,  77 
Diafpore,  78 
Staurolite,  78 
Automalite,  79 

.     .     .  ,  .     .  ,  Lime,  &c.     .     .     .    .    Chrysoberyli,   7^ 

Sommite,  80 
Meionite,  80 

.  ,  Magnesia,  &c.  .     .     .    Pieonafte,  80 
.  ,  Lime,  Magnesia,  &c.      Lazulite,  8 1 
.  ,  Potash,  &c.      .      .     .     Andalufice,  82 
.  ,  Lime,  Magnesia,  Potash,  &c.  Blue   Felfpar,  8a 

fluoric  acid,  &c WavelJite,  &c.  83 

Si/ex ,  fluoric  acid,  &c.       . 


.   ,  Lime,  fluoric  acid,  &c. 
J^fagnesia,  chromic  acid,  &c. 
sulphuric  acid,  &c. 
potash,  sulphuric  acid,  &c. 

ia,  fluoric  acid,  &c.      -•    f» 
LIME,  89 

.     .  ,  carbonic  acid,  &c 


,  Stroniian,  carbonic  acid 
•i  magnesia^  carbonic  acid 


lopaz,  83 

Pyrophyfalite 
Picnite,  85 
Spinelle   Ruby,  85 
Subfulphate  of  Alumine,  86 
Alum,  86 
Cryolite,  88 

Carbonate  of  Lime,  93 

Calcareous  fpar 

Schiefer  fpar 

Aphrite 

Agaric  mineral 

Granular  limeftone 

Swineltone 

Bituminous  limeftone 

Oolite 

Pea-ftone 

Madreporite 

Chalk 

Marl 
,       Tufa 
Arragonite,  loz 
Bitterfpar,  104 

Micmite 
Brown  Spar,  105 


CONTENTS.       EARTHY  MINERALS. 

LIME,  magnesia,  carbonic  acid    .     .     .     Pearl  Spar,  105 

Dolomite,  105 
Magnefian  Limeflone,  106 
.     .     »  ,  Silex,  Alumine ,  carbonic  add,  &c.  Lias,  107 

.     .     .  ,  phosphoric  acid Apatite,  108 

.     .     .  ,fuoric  acid Fluor,  109 

.     .     .  ,  sulphuric  acid, Anhydrous  Gypfum,  in 

Gypfnm,  112 
.     .     .  ,  soda,  sulphuric  acid     ....     Glauberite,   1 15 

.     .     .  ,  nitric  acid Nitrate  of  Lime,  115 

.     .     .  ,  boracic  acid Datholite,  116 

Botryolite 

.     .     .  ,  arsenic  acid Pharmacolite,  116 

MAGNESIA,  117 

»  Native  Magnefia,  117 

,  Silex,  &c Chryfolite,  118 

Olivin 

>  Alumine,  Lime,  &c.    .     .     Serpentine,  119 

,  carbonic  acid      ....      Magncflte,   I2O 

>  sulphuric  add,  &c.      .     .     Sujphatx  of  Magnefia,  i 21 

j  boracic  acid       ....     Boracite,  122 

ZIRCON,  123 

.     .     .     . ,  Silex,  &c Hyacinth,  124 

Jargoon,  124 
Zirconite,  124 
GLUCINE,  125 

.     .     .     .  ,  Silex,  Alumine,  &c.    .     .     .     Euclafe,  1 25 
•     .     .     .  ,  •     .     .  ,  .     .     .  ,  Lime,  Iron  Beryl,  126 
.     .    •     •  ,  •     .,...,.     .  ,  chrome    Emerald.  127 
YTTRIA,  128 

.     .      .     . ,  Silex,  Alumine,  Glucine       .     Gadoliniter  I2Q 
BARYTES,  129 

carbonic  acid Witherite,  130 

.     .     .     .  ,  sulphuric  acid Heavy  fpar,  131 

.     .     .     .,  Alumine,  Lime,  sulphuric  acid  Hepatite,  132 
STRONTIAN,  133 

.     .     .  ,  carbonic  acid     .....     Strontianite,  133 
.     .     .     .,  sulphuric  acid Celeftine,  134 


ALKALINE  MINERALS. 


POTASH,  135 

.     .     .     .  ,  carbonic  acid Carbonate  of  potafh,  136 

nitric  acid,  &c Nitrate  of  potafh,  137 

SODA,  138 

.     .     .  ,  carbonic  acid Carbonate  of  foda,   139 

.     .     .  ,  sulphuric  acid Sulphate  of  foda,  141 

.  ,  boracic  acid Borate  of  foda,   141 

.     .     .  ,  muriatic  acid Muriate  of  foda,  142 

AMMONIA,  145 

,  sulphuric  acid  ....  Sulphate  of  ammonia,  145 

,  muriatic  acid    ....  Sal  Ammoniac,  145 


6ONTEICTS.      NATIVE    METALS,    &C. 

NATIVE  METALS 

AND 

METALLIFEROUS  MINERALS. 


IRON,  147 


sulphur 
oxygen 


•  t  oxygen,  manganese,  &C. 


.  ,  oxygen,  phosphoric  acid        .        , 
.       .   ,      .     .  ,  carbonic   acid,  &C.      .      • 
.  ,     .     .  ,  sulphuric  acid 
.   ,     .     .   ,  chromic  acid     •        •        • 

.  ,  anenic  acid,  &c 

MANGANESE,  161 

.        .   ,  oxygen,  barytes,  &c. 
.  ,     .     .  ,  sulphur,  &C. 
.        .        .        .  >      .      .   ,  iron,  &C- 

.  ,     .  .  phosphoric  acid,  &c 
MOLYBDENA,  163 

.   ,  sulphur     .  • 

TIN,  164 
.  .  ,  oxygen,  &C. 
.   .   ,  co&per,  iron,  sulphur,  &C. 
TUNGSTEN,  167 

,        .        .     ,  oxygen,  lime,  &C- 

,  acid,  iron,  &C.      •,        . 
TITANIUM,  168 

.       .        .     ,  oxygen,  &c.      . 


CERIUM,  170 

,  oxygen,  si/ex,  &C. 


URANIUM,  171 

.       .      .      ,  oxygen       .... 

.      ,  lead,  &C 

TANTALIUM,  173 

.        .        .        .   ,  oxygen,  iron,  &C.       • 
.  ,     .     .  ,  yttria,  &C.     . 
CHROME,  174 
BISMUTH,  175 


Native,  148 
Meteoric,  148 
Iron  pyrites,  150 
Magnetic  Iron  Ore,  15 1 
Red  Iron  ore,  154 
Brown  Iron  ore,  154 
Black  Iron  ore,  155 
Argiilace  us  Iron  ore,  156 

Pea  Iron  ore 
Bog  Iron  ore,  157 
Blue  Iron  ore,  158 
Sparhofe  Iron  ore,  158 
Green  Vitriol,  159 
Chromate  of  iron,  159 
Arfeniate  of  iron,  160 

Grey  manganefe,  161 
Sulphuret  of  manganefe,  i6z 
White  manganefe,   i6z 
Phofphate  of  manganefe,  163 

Sulphuret  of  molybdena,  163 

OxiJe  of  tin,  165 
Bell  metal  ore,  166, 

Tungftate  of  lime,  167 
Wolfram,  167 

Titanite,  169 
Anatafe,  169 
Nigrine,  169 
Rutiiite,  170 
Metuccanite,  170 
Iferine,  170 

Cerice,  171 
Allanite,  171 
Cerin 

Uranite,  173 
Uran  ochre,  173 

Tantalite,  173 
Yttrotantalite,  174 

Native,  176 


CONTENTS.       NATIVE    METALS,    &C. 


BISMUTH,  sulphur      ....  Sulphuret  of  bismuth,  176 

.  ,  oxygen          ....  Bifmuth  ochre,  177 
ARSENIC,  177 

.     .      .  , Native,  178 

.     .      .  ,  oxygen,  &c Oxide  of  arfenic,  178 

.      .     .  ,  sulphur        .  Realgar,  178 

Orpiment 

...,..,  iron,  &c.         .       .  Mifpickcl,  170 

COBALT,  180 

.     .     .  ,  arsenic,  Sic Grey  cobalt,  181 

••»••»  irony  &c.       .       .  Arfenical  cobalt,  181 

•     .  ,  oxygen     .....  Earthy  cobalt,  182 

.      .      .   ,  arsenic  acid          f        .        .  Red  cobalt,   l8z 

.   ,  sulphuric  acid  .        ,  Red  vitriol,  1 82 

NICKEL,  183 

.     .     .  ,  arsenic ;  &c.   ....  Kupfernickel,  183 

.    .    .  ,  oxygen,     .  Nickel  ochre,  184 
SILVER,  184 

•  .     ,  „ Native,  185 

.      •      ,  antimony,  &c.    ....  Antimonial  fllver,  1 86 

,  sulphur     •  Vitreous  filver,  186 

.      .     ,  antimony,  sulphur     .        .        .  Ruby  filver,  187 

.     •     ,     .      .     ,     .     .  ,  &c.        .  Brittle  filver  glance,  187 

•  •     ,     •      .     t  lead,  &c.          .        .  White  filver,  187 
.     .      ,  copper,  sulphur,   &c.      .        .  Black  filver,  1 88 

.      .     ,  bismuth,  copper,  &c.        .       .  Bifmuthic  fllver,  188 

•  •     ,  carbonic  add,  &c.     .       .       .  Carbonate  of  filver,  188 

,  muriatic  acid,  &c.      .       .       .  Muriate  of  lilver,  188 
COPPER    189 

Native,  191 

sulphur Suiphuret  of  copper,  192 

.  ,  iron        .      .       .  Buntkupfererz,  193 

&c Grey  copper,  193 

Milphur,    iron       .       .       .  Yellow  copper,  194 

arsenic,  &c.     .        .        .        .  White  copper,   194 

oxygen Ruby  copper,  195 

.     .   ,  si/ex,   &c.          .        .  Dioptafe,   197 

.     .  ,  carbonic  acid    .     .  Carbonate  of  copper,  196 

.  ,  sulphuric  acid     .     .  JSulphate  of  copper,  197 

.  ,  muriatic  acid,  &c.  Muriate  of  copper,  197 

.     .  ,  phosphoric  acid      .  Phofphate  of  copper,  198 

.     ,  ,  arsenic  acid,  &c.  Arleniate  of  copper,  198 
GOLD,  200 

.     .  , Native,  aoi 

PLATINA,  203 

.      .       .  , Native,  204 

RHODIUM,  206 
IRIDIUM,  206 

OSMIUM,  ac6 Alloy  of  iridium  and ofmium,  206 

PALLADIUM,  206 

, Native,  207 

TELLURIUM,  207 

, Native,  207 

,  gold,  silver         .       .  Aurum  graphicum,   208 

,  lead,  tilver,  &c.     .     .  Plumbiferous  tellurium,  208 


CONTENTS.       NATIVE  METALS,   &C. 


ANTIMONY,  209 


sulphur     .        , 
oxygen,  sulphur  . 
.     .  ,  silex,  &c. 


Native,  209 
Grey  antimony,  210 
Red  antimony,  210 
White  antimony,  210 
Antimonial  ochre,  an 


LEAD,  an 

.     .  ,  sulphur       ....  Galena,  212 

.     .  ,  antimony,  copper,  sulphur       .  Triple  fulphuret  of  lead, 

.     .  ,  oxygen Native  minium,  214 

.     .,..-,  carbonic  acid      .         .  Carbonate  of  lead,  215 

.     .  ,     .    .  ,  muriatic  acid,  &c.     .       .  Muriate  of  lead,  216 

.     .  ,    .     .  ,  phosphoric  acid,  &C.  Phofphate  of  lead   21 6 

.     .  ,    .     .  ,  sulphuric  acid,  &c.    .     .  Sulphate  of  lead,  217 

.     .  ,    .    .  ,  arsenic  acid,  &c.     .      .  Arfeniate  of  lead,  217 

.     .  ,     .    .  ,  molybdic  acid,  &c.     .       .  Molybdate  of  lead,  2l8 

.     .  ,    .    .  ,  chromic  acid,  &c.    .     .  Chromate  of  lead,  218 

ZINC,  219 

.     .  ,  sulphur,  &c Blende,  219 

.     .  ,  oxygen,  carbonic  acid        .  .  Calamine,  22O 

.    .  ,    .     .  ,  silex       .          .         .  Electric  calamine,  221 

.     .  ,     .     .  ,  sulphuric  acid,  &C.        .  Sulphate  of  zinc,  221 

QUICKSILVER,  222 

.  ,         .  ...  Native,  223 

.       .       .  ,  silver       .         .       .  Native  amalgam,  223 

.  ,  sulphur,  Iron       .  Cinnabar,  224 
.  ,  oxygen,  muriatic  acid,  &C.  Horn  quickfilver,  224 

COMBUSTIBLE  MINERALS. 

SULPHUR,  225 

.     .     .  , Native,  227 

.  ,         .         .         .         .         .  Volcanic,  229 

CARBON, Diamond,  229 

Mineral  carbon,  232 

.     .     .  ,  iron Plumbago,  ,232 

.     .     .  ,  hydrogen,  &c.  .         .  Mineral  oil,  233 

.     .     .  ,     .      .      ,  bituminous  oil        .  Bitumen,  235 

...,..,  bitumen,  &c.       .  Coal,  237 

.     .     .  ,  succinic' acid        .         .          .  Amber,  245 

.     .     .  ,  metallic  ac'fd  .         .  Honeyftone,  245- 

.     .     .  ,  resin,  asphalt,  &c.          .         .  Retinafphalt,  245 

.    .    .,  .    .  ,&c.       .        .        .»  Foflil  copal,  245  x 


SILEX. 


THIS  Earth  is,  when  pure,  in  common  with  the  rest 
9f  the  earths,  perfectly  white  and  infusible,  except  by 
the  intense  heat  of  voltaic  electricity.  It  has  neither 
taste  nor  smell,  and  its  specific  gravity  is  2.66. 

Silex  has  never  been  found  mineralized  by  any  acid, 
but  is  occasionally  involved  in  small  proportion  in  some 
of  the  aoidiferous  earthy  substances ;  it  forms  a  large 
ingredient  of  very  many  earthy  minerals,  including  some 
of  the  hardest  gems  and  the  softest  clays ;  it  is  proved 
by  analysis  to  enter,  in  variable  proportion,  into  the 
composition  of  about  two-thirds  of  the  whole  number  of 
earthy  minerals  whose  composition  is  known ;  and  as  it 
is  the  chief  ingredient  of  the  oldest  and  most  plentiful  of 
the  primitive  rocks,  and  is  found  in  rocks  of  almost  every 
age  and  formation,  it  is  esteemed  to  be  the  most  abun- 
dant substance  in  nature. 

Silex,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  earths  has  lately  been 
proved,  by  Sir  H.  Davy,  to  be  a  compound  substance  ; 
it  consists,  according  to  Berzelius,  of  oxygen,  in  the 
proportion  of  about  54  per  cent,  united  with  a  base* 
Silicium,  which  has  not  hitherto  been  obtained  in  a 
state  of  separation,  in  the  proportion  of  about  46  per 
cent.  Silex  cannot  therefore  be  now  considered  as  a 
simple  or  elementary  body. 

Notwithstanding  the  complete  analysis  of  silex,  it 
still  obtains  among  chemists  its  old  denomination  of  an 
Earth;  principally,  it  may  be  supposed,  from  the  diffi- 
culty of  properly  characterizing  its  base  ;  which  is  not 
believed  by  Sir  H.  Davy  to  be  a  metal,  but  of  a  pecu- 
liar nature,  bearing  an  analogy  to  boron,  charcoal, 
sulphur  and  phosphorus. 

As  common  flints  are  almost  wholly  composed  of 
siliceous  earth,  i$  thence  received  the  name  of  Silex, 
which  in  the  latin  signifies  flint ;  but  it  is  found  io  the 
greatest  purity  in  quartz  or  rock  crystal. 

A 


8    :  ^  :  : 

ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

QUARTZ. 

Quartz  is  found  crystallized,  fibrous,  granular,  and 
compact.  It  scratches  glass,  does  not  yield  to  the 
knife,  and  is  infusible.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.6  ;  and 
it  is  composed  of  silex,  with  2  or  3  per  cent,  of  water. 

Crystallized  quartz*  is  found  perfectly  transparent  and 
colourless ;  also,  red,  yellow,  grey,  black,  brown,  pur- 
ple, green,  and  of  various  shades  of  each  colour. 

The  transparent  and  colourless  is  known  by  the 
name  of  rock  Crystal :  the  largest  and  most  esteemed 
crystals  are  brought  from  Madagascar,  the  Alps,  Nor- 
way, and  Scotland ;  where  they  are  found  in  cavities  in 
granite.  Single  crystals  have  been  met  with,  of  more 
than  100  Ibs.  weight.  These  are  bought  at  a  high  price 
by  the  lapidary,  to  cut  up  into  various  ornaments,  as 
seals,  &c.  and  into  proper  forms  for  spectacles,  as  a 
substitute  for  glass.  In  smaller  crystals,  quartz  is  found 
in  almost  every  metallic  vein,  both  of  ancient  and  re- 
cent formation,  in  every  kind  of  rock. 

*  Crystallized  Quartz.'—  Unconnected  cryftals  of  quartz,  in  my  poffefliofi, 
from  Tonewanto,  are  in  the  eighteen  fided  form,  fhining  with  remarkable- 
brilliancy.  Others  from  Rochefter,  north-weft  of  the  Shawangunk  moun- 
tain, have  as  many  fides,  with  longer  columns ;  found  fcattered  through 
argillaceous  loam.— Abraham  G.  'Thompson. 

Attached  cryftals  of  great  beauty  have  been  brought  from  Rochefter, 
having  a  fix  fided  column  terminating  in  a  fix  fided  pyramid.  Some  of 
thempoffefs  remarkable  clearnefs  and  brilliancy,  and  form  clufters  of  great 
beauty.  They  reft  upon  a  bafe  of  quartzy  rock,  containing  galena,  or 
fulphuret  of  lead,  and  blende,  or  fuphuret  of  zinc.— Ib. 

A  cryftal  of  this  fort,  in  my  collection,  brought  by  a  Canadian  trader 
from  fome  barbarian  region  north-weft  of  Lake  Superior,  is  5  inches 
long,  and  i  i-a  in  diameter.— Rev.  Alex.  MiLeod. 

Many  handfome  fpecimens  of  nafcent  and  well  formed  cryftals  of  quartz 
have  been  brought  from  Rhinebeck. — Rev.  F.  C.  Schaeffer. 

Well  formed  and  lucid  cryftals  have  been  brought  from  Diamond  Ifland, 
in  Lake  Champlain.— Sttvenson. 

Elegant  clufters  of  the  same,  from  the  banks  of  the  Illinois— Long. 

Opake  cryftals  of  quartz,  refting  upon  gneifs,  from  the  Stafford  Springs, 
in  Connecticut.-— Davis, 

The  Diamond  Rock,  fituated  eaft  of  Lanfingburgh,  has  a  furface  be- 
fj>angled  with  minute  cryftals,  that  glitter  in  the  funmine,  and  tempt  moft 
vifiter*  to  bring  away  pieces  of  the  quartzy  rock-  and  its  crop  of  cryftals. 

Quartzy  cryftallizations  are  found  in  various  other  parts  cf  the  United 
Stattr.  and  of  North  America ;  fuch  as  Mafiachufetts,  Virginia,  South  Ca- 
rolina, and  other  place*. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  & 

Quartz,  more  often  than  any  other  crystallized  mine- 
ral, contains  foreign  substances  sometimes  drops  of  wa- 
ter, with  bubbles  of  air,  may  be  seen  in  it  ;  also  crystals 
of  schorl  or  titanium,  crystals  of  chlorite,  and  iron  ore. 

The  crystallizations  of  quartz  or  rock  crystal  are  very 
interesting.  The  crystals  in  my  possession  exhibit  40 
distinct  varieties  of  form  ;  the  most  common  of  which  is 
a  hexahedral  prism  terminated  by  hexahedral  pyramids: 
the  two  pyramids  joined  base  to  base,  without  an  inter- 
vening prism,  are  rarely  seen.  The  primitive  crystal  is 
also  rare,  but  is  occasionly  found  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Bristol  ;  it  is  an  obtuse  rhomboid,  very  nearly 
approaching  the  cube.  Its  angles,  according  to  Haliy, 
are  94°  24'  and  85°  36'  ;  but  the  results  obtained  by  the 
rejecting  goniometer  do  not  correspond  therewith. 

Quartz  allows,  though  not  readily,  of  mechanical  clea- 
vage, parallel  with  the  planes  of  its  primitive  crystal. 

The  transparent  crystals  found  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Bristol,  termed  Bristol  Diamonds,  are  crystallized 
quartz  ;  those  of  Cornwall  are  by  some  called  Cornish 


Crystals  of  quartz,  of  a  light  yellow,  or  of  various  shades 
of  brown,  are  brought  from  many  places.  The  best  are 
found  in  a  hill  called  Cairn-gorm,  in  Scotland.  A  sin- 
gle crystal  about  twelve  inches  long,  and  four  in  diame- 
ter, of  a  deep  brown  colour  and  transparent,  which  was 
fit  for  the  lapidary,  was  not  long  since  sold  by  public  auc- 
tion for  210  guineas.  These  are  by  some  called  False 
Topazes. 

When  of  a  reddish  purple,  or  violet  colour,  quartz  is 
called  Amethyst  :*  the  crystals  are  generally  of  the  deep- 
est colour  towards  the  summit.  It  commonly  occurs  in 
veins  in  metalliferous  mountains  in  Spain,  Bohemia, 
Saxony,  Hungary,  <kc.  never  in  those  of  primitive  gra- 
nite. Frequently  it  is  found  in  hollow  masses,  called 
geodes,  which  are  occasionally  surrounded  by  a  coating 
of  agate  ;  but  these  are  principally  met  with  in  volcanic 

*  Amethyst.—  My  ccllection  contains  hollow  balls,  covered  within  by 
amethyflinc  cryftals,  from  Mentz,  in  Germany,  and  amorphous  pieces  of 
various  purple  hues,  from  St.  Salvador*,  in  Brazil,  and  its  vicinity  Me 
Collins  brought  me  an  amethyst  found  in  Georgia,  thirty  miles  west  c£ 

Augusta.. 


4  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

countries ;  in  Auvergne,  the  Tyrol,  and  the  Palatine. 
Analysis  has  proved  the  amethyst  to  contain  a  very  mi- 
nute quantity  of  iron  and  manganese,  to  which  its  colour 
may  be  attributed.  Amethyst  has  been  met  with  in  the 
tin  mines  of  Cornwall,  Polgooth,  and  Pednandrae. 

Fibrous  quartz*  is  yellowish  or  greyish  white,  and  occa- 
sionally pale  amethyst :  sometimes  it  occurs  in  radiated 
and  globular  concretions,  two  inches  or  more  in  diame- 
ter, but  only  in  Cornwall. 

Granular  quartz\  is  white,  yellowish  or  greyish  white ; 
it  occurs  in  granular  distinct  concretions,  sometimes  in 
mass,  and  as  a  component  of  certain  granites.  It  is  fine, 
or  large  grained.  The  fine  grained,  with  silvery  mica, 
composes  a  granite  near  Schihallien,  in  Scotland  ;  the 
larger  grained  forms  large  blocks  in  argillaceous  schistus 
and  other  rocks  in  Scotland.  The  latter  becomes  snow 
white  by  calcination,  and  is  largely  employed  in  the 
porcelain  manufactory. 

Compact  quartz^  is  of  various  colours,  and  occurs  in 
mass,  or  disseminated,  or  globular,  &c.  It  is  found  en- 
tering into  the  composition  of  rocks,  from  the  oldest  to 
those  of  the  most  recent  formation,  and  composing  veins 
and  beds  in  others  :  sometimes  it  is  found  in  consider- 
able blocks,  though  it  seldom  forms  entire  mountains. 

Prase^  is  of  a  leek  green  colour,  and  translucent;  it  oc- 
curs in  mass  at  Brutenbrun,  in  Saxony,  in  a  mineral  bed  : 
it  appears  to  be  an  intimate  mixture  of  quartz  and  acti- 
nolite. 

When  of  a  light  grass  or  an  apple  green,  and  some- 
what transparent,  quartz  is  termed  Chrysoprase,  which 
is  found  in  mass,  imbedded  in  serpentine,  in  Siberia,  with 
opal,  chalcedony,  &c. 

Avanturine  isyellowish  red,  or  grey,  greenish,  or  black- 
ish. It  appears  to  be  filled  with  silvery  and  yellowish 

*  Fibrous  Quartz.— This  frequently  occurs,  croffing  veins  of  granite, 
gneifs  and  fchistus,  in  New- York.  Ic  feems  to  be  an  incipient  form  of 
cryftallization. 

f  Granular  J^war/z— frequent  in  and  around  New- York. 

I  Compact  Quartz— many  diftind:  mafles  are  found  scattered  over  the 
land  between  Waftiington  city  and  Fredericktown,  Md. 

$  Prase.— Specimens  of  quartz,  coloured  green,  at  New- York  and  its 
vicinity.  They  are,  however,  opake  and  amorphous,  and  have  been  fuppc- 
fed  to  owe  their  colour  to  copper. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  5 

spangles,  that  reflect  light  with  great  brilliancy.  ^  Some 
suppose  these  spangles  to  be  mica,  others  imagine  that 
the  appearance  is  produced  only  by  the  particular  direc- 
tion of  the  lamina:.  It  takes  a  good  polish,  and  is  used 
for  seals  and  other  ornaments.  The  best  avanturine  is 
brought  from  Spain. 

A  variety  of  quartz,  which  is  commonly  massive,  and 
has  a  greasy  lustre,  as  though  it  had  been  rubbed  with 
oil,  is  therefore  called  Fat  quartz  :*  it  is  one  of  the  gan- 
gues  of  native  gold  in  Peru. 

Another  variety  is  opaque  white,  and  is  thence  term- 
ed Milk  quartz.  It  has  sometimes  a  tinge  of  red,  which 
often  passes  into  a  beautiful  rose  red,  when  it  is  termed 
Rose  quartz  ;f  it  often  has  the  greasy  lustre  of  fat  quartz. 
Its  colour  is  said  to  be  owing  to  manganese.  It  has  been 
found  at  Rabenstein  in  Bavaria,  in  considerable  quantity, 
in  a  vein  of  manganese  traversing  a  large  grained  granite. 
It  has  also  been  met  with  in  Finland,  and  near  Cork  in, 
Ireland. 

Quartz  sometimes  exhibits  impressions  of  the  crystal- 
line forms  of  substances  on  which  it  has  been  deposited., 
but  which  have  been  decomposed;  quartz  exhibiting  such 
crystalline  appearances  is  termed  Pseudomorphous.  J 
Sometimes  it  is  merely  cellular ;  and  when  the  cavities 
are  very  minute,  and  the  quartz  is  in  very  thin  plates 
which  intersect  each  other  in  every  direction,  it  is  so  light 
as  to  swim  on  water;  whence  this  variety  has  been  term* 
ed  Swimming  stone,  by  some  Spongiform  quartz.  It  has 
been  found  at  Schemnitz  in  Hungary,  at  Joachimstal  in 
Bohemia,  at  Schneeberg  and  Freyberg  in  Saxony,  at 
Beresof  in  Siberia,  and  in  Cornwall  in  England.  The 
cavities  of  one  specimen  in  my  possesion,  from  Pednan- 
drae  Mine,  near  Redruth,  are  partly  filled  up  with  fluol 
spar,  the  external  parts  of  which  are  rounded,  shewing  it 
to  be  in  a  state  of  decomposition ;  the  cavities  of  another, . 

*  Fat  <j>yartz.-—  Particles  of  this  variety  adhere  to  the  pieces  of  native 
gold  found  in  North  Carolina. 

t  Roit  Quartz.— -I  ^ave  elegant  fpecimens  from  Maine,  received  frorc 
Profeflbr  CMeaveland. 

$  PseuJomorpbous  Quartz  — Cryftals  of  quartz  fometimea  make  impre*> 
sions  upon  invefting  quartzy  maffcs  of  fubfequent  formation  ;  and  fome> 
limes  the  quartzy  crufts  or  boxe*  remain,  after  the  fofter  and  more  $***• 
Enable  materials  they  enclosed,  are  decompofcd  or  waftcd&war, 


0  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

from  Relistean  Mine,  are  filled  up  partly  by  black,  part* 
ly  by  bright  yellow  copper  ore. 

Quartz  combined  with  variable  proportions  of  iron,  fc 
termed  Ferruginous  quartz  .•*  It  is  of  a  yellow  or  red  co^ 
lour,  and  opake,  and  is  found  both  compact  and  crystal- 
lized. It  is  harder  than  pure  quartz  ;  and  when  heated, 
becomes  magnetic.  It  is  sometimes  met  with  in  remark- 
ably neat  small  crystals  having  both  terminations  perfect, 
and  of  a  yellowish  or  reddish  colour.  These  crystals* 
have  been  principally  found  in  secondary  rocks,  near 
Compostella  in  Spain ;  whence  they  are  called  Hya- 
cinths of  Composttila.  Massive  ferruginous  quartz,  or 
EisenJciesel)  is  found  in  the  veins  of  primitive  mountains, 
where  it  is  often  met  with  as  the  gangue  of  various  me- 
tallic substances,  as  of  lead,  copper,  sulphuret  of  iron,  and 
sometimes  of  gold. 

A  variety  termed  Hyalite,  or  Mutter's  glass,  having  in 
many  respects  the  appearance  of  chalcedony,  has  been 
found  in  small  masses  upon,  or  lining  the  cavities  of, 
amygdaloid.  It  bears  a  striking  resemblance  to  gum 
arabic,  and  is  said  to  be  composed  of  92  parts  silex  and 
7  of  water.  It  has  been  found  only  in  volcanic  coun- 
tries :  in  Tuscany, — in  small  stalactites  in  the  rocks  of 
Piperino,  in  Solfatara,  &c. 

Quartz  is  sometimes  found  forming  beds,  and  more 
often  veins,f  in  primitive  mountains.  The  quartz  in 
these  veins  is  sometimes  compact,  but  is  occasionally 
hollow  in  places  \  in  these  cavities  the  crystals  which  are 
seen  in  the  cabinets  of  mineralogists  are  found.  It  oc- 
casionally occurs  imbedded,  as  in  porphyries ;  and  in 
remarkably  neat  transparent  crystals,  in  Carrara  marble. 

It  is  also  met  with  in  veins  or  caverns  in  secondary 
countries  of  different  natures ;  and  forms  a  large  pro- 
portion of  alluvial  deposites,  principally  in  fragments,  or 
rounded  or  angular  grains,  constituting  sand  ;  which  is 
sometimes,  by  causes  which  we  know  not  how  to  explain, 

*  Ferruginous  Quartz.— Amorphous,  reddifh  or  ruddy  quartz,  ftained 
through  and  through,  or  in  fpots  and  blotches,  are  of  frequent  occurrence. 

f  Vtias  of  Quartz.— These- occur  in  the  rocks  of  gneifs  and  granite,  ia 
the  islands  of  the  Sound  east  of  New  York,  of  various  width,  from  half 
on  inch  to  three  feet ;  sometimes  parallel  to  the  strata,  and  sometimes  £•' 
cross  them.  The  quartz  ia  even  a  rod  wide,  in  certain  placet. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  7 

found  adhering,  forming  masses  denominated  Sandstone* 
and  Gritstone. 

OPAL. 

Opal  is  either  of  a  clear,  or  of  a  bluish  white  :  it  in- 
cludes several  varieties. 

It  is  found  in  small  masses  or  in  veins  in  Hungary,  in 
rocks  which  seem  to  be  in  part  decomposed,  and  which 
are  by  some  considered  to  be  volcanic  ;  by  others,  as  ar* 
gillaceous  rocks,  the  result  of  the  decomposition  of  por-> 
phyries.  In  these  rocks  both  the  common  and  the  noblo 
opal  occur.  Opal  is  also  met  with  in  Iceland,  and  Sax-* 
ony. 

The  Common  opal  is  usually  white  with  a  tinge  of  yel* 
low,  red,  or  light  green,  internally.  It  consists  of  93.$ 
parts  of  silex,  1  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  5  of  water.  It  had 
been  found  in  several  of  the  mines  of  Cornwall. 

The  Noble  opal  exhibits  changeable  reflections  of  the 
same  colours  as  the  former  variety,  and  is  an  exceeding- 
ly brilliant  and  beautiful  mineral  :  it  is  hard  enough  to 
scratch  glass.  The  finest  specimens  of  it  are  in  the  Im- 
perial Cabinet  of  Vienna  ;  one  is  about  5  inches  long 
and  2|  in  diameter,  the  other  is  of  the  shape  and  size  of 
a  hen's  egg.  It  consists  of  90  parts  of  silex,  and  10  of 
water. 

Semi-opal  is  harder  than  the  preceding  varieties  and 
is  mostly  opake;  occasionally  transparent,  with  a  glisten- 
ing resinous  lustre.  It  is  principally  met  with  in  secon- 
dary countries ;  sometimes  in  volcanic  rocks,  and  in  ba- 
salts. It  has  also  been  found  in  primitive  granite  and  por- 
phyry, especially  in  the  veins  traversing  those  rocks 
which  contain  silver.  It  consists  of  85  percent,  of  si- 
lex,  1  of  carbon,  1.75  of  oxide  of  iron^  8  of  ammoniacal 
water,  and  a  small  portion  of  bitumen.  Semi-opal  is 

*  Sane/stone — At  Nyack,  thirty  miles  north  of  New- York,  the  Sand- 
stone strata,  overlay  the  bones  of  land  animals.  The  roots  of  the  kal- 
mia  latifolia  are  petrified  in  red  Sandstone,  near  the  top  of  the  Kaatskill 
mountain.— (Eaton.)———  And  both  marine  shells  and  vegetable  substan- 
ces are  embraced  in  the  Sandstone,  near  Rappahannock  and  York  rivere, 
in  Virginia.— (Lot robe.) -Quartz,  in  .loose,  and.  round  pebbles,  chief- 
ly constitutes  the  fhoals  and  beaches  of  the  Atlantic  fhore,  from  Cape  Cod 
3fld  Nautucket  to  Cape  Hattcras,  and  beyond, 


8  ELEMENRARY    INTRODUCTION' 

found  in  Auvergne  in  France,  in  the  island  of  Elba^  in 
Bohemia,  Iceland,  Hungary,  &c.  Fossil  teeth  have 
been  found  penetrated  by  this  mineral. 

Wood-opal  *  has  a  ligneous  structure,  and  is  met  with 
of  various  shades  of  grey,  brown  and  black.  It  appears 
to  be  wood,  penetrated  by  opal  or  semi-opal ;  and  is 
found  near  Schemnitz,  and  at  Telkobanya  in  Hungary. 

A  variety,  met  with  at  the  same  place  as  the  prece- 
ding, called  Ferruginous  Opal  or  Opal  jasper,  is  of  a 
yellowish  or  yellowish  brown  colour,  with  a  glistening 
resinous  lustre.  It  consists  of  about  43  parts  of  silex,  47 
of  oxide  of  iron,  and  7  of  water. 

HYDHOPHANE. 

The  Hydrophane  is  considered  to  be  a  variety  of 
opal.  It  is  generally  whitish,  and  nearly  opake  ;  by 
immersion  in  water,  it  exhibits  some  of  the  changeable 
colours  of  the  former  varieties,  and  is  found  in  the  same 
places.  It  consists  of  about  93  parts  of  silex,  2  of  alu- 
mine,  and  5  of  water. 

Hydrophane  is  porous,  and  commonly  adheres  to  the 
tongue.  It  is  chiefly  found  in  Saxony,  the  Isle  of  Ferroe, 
and  in  Hungary.  At  Mussinet  near  Turin,  it  occurs  in 
veins  of  chalcedony,  or  of  hard  serpentine,  traversing  a 
serpentine  mountain  in  every  direction. 

MENILITE. 

The  Menilite  is  by  some  considered  a  variety  of  semi- 
opal.  Its  common  colour  is  a  smoke  brown  ;  its  struc- 
ture slaty  ;  it  is  somewhat  translucent,  and  is  found  in 
irregular  masses  in  beds  of  clay,  between  beds  of  sul- 
phate of  lime  at  Menil-montant  near  Paris.  It  is  some- 
times called  the  Pitchstone  of  Menil-montant.  It  consists 
of  85.5  parts  of  silex,  1  of  alumine,  11  of  water  and 
inflammable  matter,  with  small  portions  of  lime  and 
oxide  of  iron* 

*  Wood-Opal.— -Wood  apparently  opalizcd  has  be€n  picked  up  on  the 
fenks  of  the  Miffouri.— Bradbuty* 


TO   MINERALOGY  9 


F.L1NT.* 

Flint  is  of  various  shades  of  white,  yellow,  brown  ant! 
black,  and  is  somewhat  harder  than  common  quartz  ; 
it  is  readily  broken  in  any  direction,  and  has  a  con- 
choidal  and  a  glimmering  lustre.  It  is  found  in  irre- 
gular masses,  and  sometimes  forming  the  substance  of 
certain  marine  organic  remains,  as  echinites  and  coral - 
loids  :  and  consists  of  97  parts  of  silex,  1  of  alurnine 
and  oxide  of  iron,  and  2  of  water.  It  specific  gravity 
is  2.58  : 

Flint  is  said  occasionally,  though  rarely,  to  be  found 
in  veins  in  primitive  rocks  ;  but  it  is  also  said  that  the 
flint  thus  found  has  not  precisely  the  characters  of  com- 
mon flint.  It  is  met  with  in  nodules  in  compact  carbo- 
nate of  lime  in  Derbyshire;  at  Mont-martre  near  Paris, 
in  an  impure  sulphate  of  lime  ;  it  is  also  found  in  certain 
marls  ;  but  that  which  may  be  termed  its  ordinary  na- 
tive place,  is  the  upper  chalk  formation,  in  which  it  is 
met  with  in  regular  layers,  and  occasionally  as  in  Fresh- 
water Bay  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  in  continuous  beds  of 
considerable  length.  Flint  is  also  abundantly  found  in 
portions  evidently  rounded  by  attrition,  forming  depo- 
sites  in  the  neighbourhood  of  chalk  hills,  and  of  gravel 
in  alluvial  countries.  When  red,  yellow,  or  browo*  they 
are  termed  Ferruginous  flints. 

The  formation  of  the  flints  which  lie  in  detached 
masses,  though  in  parallel  layers,  in  chalk,  has  much  oc- 
cupied the  attention  of  geologists,  and  without  producing 
any  satisfactory  solution.  Their  form  proves  that  they 
have  not  been  rolled,  or  conveyed  into  the  chalk  ;  in 
which  they  bear  every  appearance  of  having  been  form- 

*  Flint-— Is  found  in  detached  mafies,  of  the  Cze  of  a  5ft  a.nd  lefe,  fcat- 
tered  over  the  maritime  alluvion  of  the  United  States.  But  as  it  does  not 
break  with  a  proper  concavo-convex  fracture,  it  may  be  deemed  rather  a 
horn-ftone  ;  or  rather  it  is  horn^ftone  palling  into  flint,  found  in  the  ftrata 
of  fecondary  lime-ftone,  in  the  counties  of  Otfego,  Genefice  and  Niagara, 
New- York;  generally  of  a  black  hue;  is  frequent  in  the  valley  of  Muf- 
conetcung  river,  New  Jerfey,  and  between  the  Delaware  and  Lehigh, 
Pennfylvania.  Various  other  localities  of  flint,  are  detailed  in  my  letter  on 
the  fubje&,  as  publiihed  in  Mease's  Archives  of  ufcful  knowledge,  at 
Philadelphia.  Specimens  in  mypofleflicr^from  Alabama  and  Brazil,  fhow 
the  ftages  by  which  flint  changes  to  limeftone,  or  limcflone  alters  to  flint? 


10  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

ed  :  they  are  frequently  found  containing  shells.  Some 
naturalists  have  ventured  on  the  supposition  that  the 
places  in  which  they  are  found  were  formerly  occupied 
by  animals  :  and  that  the  formation  of  flints  in  those 
places,  has  been  owing  either  to  the  affinity  existing  for 
silex  in  the  animal  matter,  or  that  it.  has  been  converted 
into  flint.  This  it  must  be  obvious  is  mere  hypothesis, 
and  is  not  more  deserving  of  regard  than  the  notion  en- 
tertained by  others,  that,  contrary  to  all  known  principles 
of  chemistry,  these  flints  have  been  formed  by  the  con- 
version of  lime  into  silex  by  some  unknown  natural 
agency.  The  most  commonly  received  opinion  seems 
to  be,  that  flints  have  been  formed  by  the  filtration  of 
siliceous  matter  through  the  chalk  ;  a  theory  not  without 
serious  difficulties. 

Kirwan  quotes  from  Schneider's  Topog.  Mineral. 
114.  that  126  silver  coins  were  found  enclosed  in  flints, 
at  Crinoc  in  Denmark  ;  and  an  iron  nail  at  Potsdam. 

CHALCEDONY.^ 

Chalcedonyis  found  of  various  shades  of  white,  yellow, 
brown,  green  and  blue.  It  occurs  massive,  forming  veins, 
in  round  balls,  termed  geodes ;  and  also,  botryoidal  and 
stalactitical ;  sometimes  it  bears  the  impression  of  organ- 
ized bodies  :  it  is  frequently  met  with  coating  crystals 
of  quartz,  and  occasionally  in  cubic  crystals,  which,  it 
is  ascertained,  are  only  secondary,  or  pseudomoi  phous, 
It  is  commonly  semi-transparent  ;  it  has  no  regular  frac- 
ture, and  is  harder  than  flint.  Its  elementary  constituents 
have  not  been  accurately  ascertained,  but  as  it  is  often 
found  passing  into  flint,  it  may  reasonably  be  assumed, 
that  their  analysis  would  not  greatly  differ.  The  specific 
gravity  of  chalcedony  is  about  2.6. 

Chalcedony  is  found  principally  at  Oberstein  in  Sax- 
ony, and  in  the  isle  of  I  erroe.  A  blue  variety  is  met 
with  in  Transylvania.  That  of  Iceland  is  in  thin  layers, 
alternately  more  or  less  translucid,  and  perfectly  paral- 
lel. But  the  most  superb  specimens  were  brought 
from  a  copper  mine  in  Cornwall,  called  Travascus, 

*  Chalcedony.— Coarfe  pieces  found  along  the  Ihorea  around  New- York, 


TO  MINERALOGY".  11 

which  was  situated  in  argillaceous  schistus  ;  these  speci- 
mens are  translucid,  whitish,  and  variously  ramified.  A 
variety  of  a  beautiful  blue  colour  on  the  surface  was 
found  in  a  tin  vein  passing  through  granite,  in  Pednan- 
drae  mine,  near  Redrutb,  in  the  same  county  ;  and 
another  variety,  very  much  resembling  flint,  containing 
small  portions  of  yellow  copper,  in  Relistian  mine. 
Chalcedony  has  also  been  met  with  in  several  others  of 
the  Cornish  minqs.  It  was  anciently  procured  from 
Chalcedon  in  Upper  Asia,  whence  its  name. 

When  of  a  white  colour  and  translucent,  chalcedony 
is  called  Cacholong.  Some  varieties  are  opake  and  ad- 
here to  the  tongue.  Cacholong  is  found  with  chalce- 
dony, sometimes  with  flint.  It  is  me.t  with  at  Cham- 
pigny,  near  Paris,  in  a  calcareous  breccia  :  but  the  real 
cacholong  is  found  in  the  banks  of  the  Cach,  a  river  in 
the  country  of  the  Calmucs  of  Buccharia. 

When  chalcedony  contains  appearances  of  arboriza- 
tion or  vegetable  filaments,  which  have  been  supposed 
to  be  owing  to  the  infiltration  of  iron  or  manganese 
through  its  natural  crevices,  it  is  termed  Mocha  stone. 
This  is  believed  chiefly  to  be  brought  from  Mocha  in 
Arabia. 

Carnelian  is  of  various  shades  of  yellow,  brown,  and 
red.  It  is  found  in  several  places  in  Europe  ;  but  the 
most  valuable  specimens  are  brought  from  Arabia,  and 
from  Surat  and  Cambay  in  India,  where  it  is  said  to 
be  found  in  certain  rocks  in  the  globular,  or  the  stalac- 
titical  form. 

Sard  is  supposed  to  differ  from  the  preceding  variety 
only  in  its  colour,  which  is  orange-yellow,  passing  into 
brownish-yellow. 

When  yellowish,  white,  red,  or  yellow,  brown,  or 
brownish  black,  and  opake,  it  is  called  Jasper. 

When  two  or  three  of  the  above  varieties  are  mixed 
in  alternate  and  concentric  bands,  exhibiting,  when  cut 
and  polished,  zones,  or  angular  lines  like  fortifications, 
the  compound  is  termed  Agate.  It  is  found  in  the  form 
of  irregular  rounded  nodules,  from  the  size  of  a  pin's 
head  to  more  than  a  loot  in  diameter,  or  in  veins  or 
strata,  or  occasionally  stalactitic.  Sometimes  agate  is 
found  in  amygdaloid  and  in  gypsum  ;  near  the  Wolga  it 


12  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

occurs  between  strata  of  secondary  limestone.  The  mosi 
beautiful  agates  of  Britain  are  found  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Perth  and  Dunbar,  and  are  called  Scotch  pebbles ; 
but  the  most  celebrated  are  those  of  Oberstein^  in  Sax- 
ony. When  the  colours  are  disposed  in  straight  parallel 
bands,  it  is  called  Ribbon  agate,  by  some  Ribbon  jasper* 
Another  variety  represents  rocks  or  buildings,  and  is  cal- 
led Ruin  agate. 

But  if  two  or  more  of  the  preceding  varieties  are  as- 
sociated with  a  band  of  rnilk-white  opake  chalcedony, 
the  mass  is  called  Onyx.  Onyxes  cut  into  portions 
about  the  size  of  a  bean,  exhibiting  opake  white  circles, 
resembling  the  iris  of  the  human  eye,  are  termed  Onyx- 
eyes. 

Sard,  united  with  opake  milk-white  chalcedony,  is 
called  Sardonyx. 

Plasma  seems  to  be  a  variety  of  chalcedony,  which  it 
resembles  in  being  translucent,  and  somewhat  harder 
than  quartz.  It  is  of  a  dull  greenish  colour,  with  yellow 
and  whitish  dots,  and  has  a  glistening  lustre.  It  has  not 
been  analyzed.  Plasma  is  brought  from  Italy  and  the 
Levant ;  and  is  said  to  occur  at  Taltsa,  in  High  Hun- 
gary ;  also,  disseminated  in  rounded  pieces,  with  flint 
and  hornstone,  in  a  mountain  of  serpentine,  at  Bojano- 
witz,  in  Moravia.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.04. 

Heliotrope  is  mostly  of  a  de«p  green  colour,  and 
translucent ;  and  commonly,  yellow  or  blood-red  spots 
are  interspersed  through  the  substance.  From  the  lat- 
ter circumstance  it  has  obtained  the  name  of  Bloodstone. 
It  is  considered  to  consist  of  chalcedony  coloured  by 
chlorite,  or  by  green  earth  ;  and  is  found  in  Siberia,  Ice* 
land,  and  in  a  vein  at  Jaschkenberg,  in  Bohemia, — but 
the  most  beautiful  varieties  are  brought  from  the  east ; 
whence,  among  lapidaries,  by  whom  it  is  in  considerable 
request,  it  has  obtained  the  name  of  Oriental  jasper, 
The  specific  gravity  of  heliotrope  is  2,6. 

C1MOL1TE. 

Cimolite  is  of  a  light  greyish-white,  inclining  to  pearl- 
grey,  but  by  exposure  to  air  it  acquires  a  reddish  tint  : 
it  occurs  massive,  and  of  a  somewhat  slaty  structure  ;  is 


TO 


13 


opake  ;  yields  to  the  nail,  and  adheres  to  the  tongue.  It 
often  encloses  small  grains  of  quartz.  It  consists  of  63 
parts  of  silex,  23  of  alumine,  1.25  of  oxide  of  iron,  and 
12  of  water.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2. 

Jt  abounds  in  the  island  of  Cimola  (whence  its  name) 
now  called  Argenteria,  situated  near  that  of  Milo.  It 
was  employed  by  the  ancients,and  still  is  by  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  island,  for  some  of  the  purposes  to  which 
fullers  earth  is  applied. 

BLACK  CHALK.     DRAWING  SLATE. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  greyish  or  bluish  black  colour  ;  it 
bas  a  slaty  structure,  is  meagre  to  the  touch,  and  soils 
the  fingers.  It  is  found  in  primitive  mountains,  accom- 
panying argillaceous  schistus,  particularly  that  which  is 
aluminous,  to  which  it  is  nearly  allied  ;  and  is  said  to 
occur  occasionally  in  the  neighbourhood  of  coal  forma- 
tions. It  is  met  with  near  Pwllhelli,  in  Caernavon^ 
shire  ;  in  Isla,  one  of  the  Hebrides  ;  in  France,  Spain, 
Italy,  Iceland,  and  in  Bareith.  That  from  the  latter 
place  yields  by  analysis  about  64  parts  of  silex,  11  of 
alumine,  11  of  carbon,  with  small  proportions  of  iron 
and  of  water. 

ALAMANDINE. 

This  mineral,  commonly  termed  JVoMe,  or  Precioi^ 
garnet,  is  usually  of  a  brilliant  crimson  colour,  some- 
times with  a  slight  smoky  tinge  and  transparent.  It 
occurs  granular,  and  also  crystallized,  in  some  of  the 
forms  usual  to  the  common  garnet  ;  its  structure  is  im- 
perfectly lamellar,  though  but  rarely  visible.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  4.3  ;  and  it  consists  of  35.75  parts  of  silex, 
27.25  of  alumine,  36  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  0.25  of  oxide 
0f  manganese. 

The  alamandine  is  very  much  esteemed  as  a  precious 
stone.  The  most  beautiful,  which  are  sometimes  of  red- 
dish violet  colour,  are  brought  from  Sirian,  the  Capital  of 
Pegu  :  among  lapidaries,  they  are  improperly  called  Syriaa 
garnets-  They  appear  to  be  the  Carbuncle  of  the  am- 

B 


ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

cients/  Of  their  geological  situation  in  Pegu,  we  are 
entirely  ignorant.  They  are  also  found  in  Bohemia, 
Hungary,  Ethiopia,  Madagascar,  Brazil,  &c. 

In  Bohemia,  they  are  found  near  Meronitz  and  Trzib- 
litz,  in  the  circle  of  Leutmeritz,  disseminated  in  an  allu- 
vial deposite,  consisting  principally  of  fragments  of 
serpentine  or  rounded  masses  of  basalt,  cemented  by  a 
grey  marl.  In  this  deposite  are  also  found  hyacinths, 
beryls,  sapphires,  quartz,  magnetic  iron,  and  even  fossil 
shells. 

It  is  said  to  have  been  met  with  in  granite  at  Stron- 
tian  ;  also  at  Ely  in  Fifeshire,  and  at  Wicklow  in  Ire- 
land. 

';   _  •    *'' 

TABULAR   SPAR. 

V:--'  »•'•;•; 

This  very  rare  mineral  has  only  been  found  at  Ora 
vitza,  and  at  Dognaska,  in  the  Bannat  of  Temesvvar, 
entering  into  the  composition  of  a  rock,  consisting  prin- 
cipally of  bluish  carbonate  of  lime  and  brown  garnets  ; 
or,  according  to  others,  in  a  vein  of  bluish  lamellar  car- 
bonate of  lime,  containing  green  garnets. 

The  tabular  spar  is  of  a  greyish  white  colour ;  trans- 
lucent and  somewhat  hard.  It  is  phosporescent  when 
scratched  with  a  knife,  and  is  said  to  have  been  met  with 
in  six-sided  tables,  in  which  the  natural  joints  may  be 
discovered,  parallel  to  the  sides  of  a  slightly  rhomboidal 
prism.  It  is  composed  of  50  parts  ofsilex,  45  oflimej 
and  5  of  water.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.86. 

JEN1TE.    YENITE. 

The  Yenite  is  a  scarce  mineral,  which  at  first  sight 
greatly  resembles  hornblende.  It  is  of  a  brown,  or 
brownish  black  colour,  dull  externally,  and  of  about  the 
fcardness  of  felspar  It  occurs  amorphous,  acicular,  and 
crystallized  ;  generally  in  the  form  of  a  rhomboidal 
prism  ;  six  varieties  have  been  discovered  in  the  form  of 
its  crystals,  the  primitive  of  which  is  a  rectangular  octo- 
faedron,  measuring  over  the  summit,  according  to  Haiiy^ 
one  way,  112C.  36',  the  other,  66°.  58'.  it  is  composed 
of  29  parts  ofsilex,  12  of  lime,  and  51  of  the  oxides  e,f 


TO   MINERALOGY.  15 

manganese  and  of  iron ;  and  therefore  does  not  seem  to 
belong  to  earthy  minerals ;  but  it  is  always  ranked  in 
that  class.  Its  specific  gravity  is  3.8. 

Jt  has  been  found  only  in  Corsica,  at  Rio  la  Marine 
and  Cape  Calamite  ;  it  is  dispersed  in  crystals  and  almost 
compact  round  masses,  in  a  thick  bed  of  green  substance, 
the  nature  of  which  has  not  been  determined,  but  which 
bears  a  considerable  analogy  to  the  Yenite  ;  and  is  ac- 
companied by  yellowish- green  epidote,  quartz,  and  arse- 
nical iron.  The  bed  containing  the  yenite  lies  upon 
another,  consisting  of  large  grained  carbonate  of  lime, 
enclosing  talc.  At  Cape  Calamite  it  is  accompanied  by 
magnetic  iron  ore,  granite,  and  quartz. 


STEATITE.* 


Steatite  is  of  various  shades  of  white,  grey,  yellow, 
green,  and  red  ;  and  is  met  with  massive,  and  (at  Ba- 
reuth)  with  occasional  appearances  of  internal  crystalli- 
zation ;  which,  being  mostly,  if  not  always,  referable  to 
the  forms  assumed  by  quartz  or  carbonate  of  lime,  are 
therefore  in  varieties  which  cannot  originate  in  the  same 
primitive  form,  and  are  thence  considered  to  be  only 
pseudomorpbous. 

This  substance  has  generally  a  very  unctuous  and 
soapy  feel,  but  it  differs  from  the  soapstone  in  not  having 
alumine  as  one  of  its  elementary  ingredients  ;  it  yields 
to  the  nail,  but  does  not  adhere  to  the  tongue ;  its  frac- 
ture is  splintery,  sometimes  slaty.  It  considerably  re« 
sembles  some  varieties  of  serpentine,  but  is  much  softer. 
The  grotesque  figures  brought  from  China,  are  general- 
ly supposed  to  be  a  variety  of  steatite  ;  which,  though  it 
possesses  some  characters  in  common  with  the  substance 
of  which  those  figures  are  made  (the  Agalmatolite),  dif- 
fers essentially  in  respect  of  analysis.  Steatite  consists 
of  64  silex,  23  magnesia,  3  oxide  of  iron,  and  5  of  water* 
Its  specific  gravity  is  2.67. 

Steatite  is  found  in  considerable  masses,  or  in  beds  or 

•  Steatite.— Found  in  the  alluvial  soil  of  New- York  city,  in  loofc 
mafies ;  in  the  county  of  Richmond,  (N.  Y.)  near  the  health  eftablifhment., 
aflbciated  with  various  other  magnefian  productions  ;  and  near  Balti* 
jnore  in  Maryland  accgraganying  the  native  chromate  of  iron* 


16          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

veins,  in  some  primitive  mountains.  It  is  most  common 
in  serpentine.  At  Freyberg  in  Saxony,  it  is  met  with 
in  tin  veins  ;  where  it  is  accompanied  by,  or  mingled 
with  mica,  asbestus,  quartz,  and  occasionally  native  sil- 
ver, &c.  It  is  found  at  Portsoy,  in  Scotland,  in  serpen- 
tine, and  in  the  Isle  of  Sky,  in  wacke.  It  occurs  also  in 
the  Isle  of  Anglesey.  It  abounds  in  the  principality  of 
Bareuth,  in  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Norway,  Sweden,  and 
France. 

The  white  varieties,  or  those  that  become  so  by  calci- 
nation, are  employed  in  the  manufactory  of  the  finest 
porcelain  :  other  varieties  are  said  to  be  used  for  fulling. 
The  Arabs,  according  to  Shaw,  use  steatite  in  their  baths 
instead  of  soap,  to  soften  the  skin ;  and  it  is  confidently 
asserted  that  the  inhabitants  of  New  Caledonia  either  eat 
it  alone,  or  mingle  it  with  their  food.  Humboldt  says 
that  the  Otomaques,  a  savage  race,  inhabiting  the  banks 
of  the  Oronoko,  are  almost  entirely  supported  during 
three  months  in  the  year,  by  eating  a  species  of  steatite, 
which  they  first  slightly  bake,  and  then  moisten  with 
Water, 

*  y  *    .        f  -f. 

BRONZITE* 

The  colour  of  this  mineral  is  brown,  having  frequently 
tbe  aspect  of  bronze  :  its  structure  is  fibrous  lamellar, 
and  its  lustre  is  considerably  metallic.  It  consists  of  60 
per  cent,  of  silex,  27.5  of  magnesia,  10.5  of  oxide  of 
iron,  and  0.5  of  water.  Its  specific  gravity  is  3.  2. 

The  Bronzite  is  usually  found  disseminated  in  Ser- 
pentine. It  occurs  in  the  Col  de  Cerviere  in  the  Alps  ; 
at  Matray  in  the  Tyrol ;  at  Basta  in  the  Duchy  of  Wol- 
fenbutel ;  at  Dobschauin  Upper  Hungary,  &c.  :  It  scemst 
to  belong  to  primitive  countries. 
£  *"'  * 

LAUMONITE, 

This  mineral  occurs  in  aggregated  crystalline  masses, 
deeply  striated,  or  in  separate  crystals  of  several  varie- 
ties of  form  ;  the  primitive  of  which,  according  to  Haiiy, 
is  a  rectangular  octohedron,  or,  according  to  Bourrton, 
&  rhomboids!  tetrahedral  prism,  with  rhombic 


TO  MTNEHALOGT.  17 

The  Laumonite  is  white,  transparent  or  translucentp 
and  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass.  It  was  formerly 
termed  the  efflorescent  zeolite^  on  account  of  its  undergo- 
ing a  spontaneous  change  by  exposure  to  the  air;  in 
consequence  of  which  it  loses  its  natural  transparency, 
and  becomes  opake,  tender,  of  a  shining  white  colour, 
and  pearly  lustre  ;  eventually,  it  falls  into  a  white  pow- 
der, similar  to  that  resulting  from  the  decomposition  off 
Glauber's  Salts.  It  has  lately  received  the  name  of  the 
Laurnonite,  from  Gillet  De  Laumont,  who  fir^t  made 
known  its  true  nature.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2,  2.  It  is 
composed  of  49  of  silex,  22  of  alumine,  9  of  lime,  17.  5 
of  water,  and  2.  6  of  carbonic  acid. 

This  mineral  was  first  discovered  in  the  lead  mine  of 
Huelgoet  in  Brittany,  lining  the  caviaes  of  the  veins.— 
It  has  since  been  brought  from  Ferroe  ;  from  near  Pais- 
ley in  Renfewshire  ;  from  Portrush  in  Ireland,  and  Lamp 
in  the  Isle  of  Sky. 

,r  DIPYRE. 

This  rare  substance  occurs  in  slender  octohedral  prisms^ 
of  a  greyish,  or  reddish  white  colour,  fasciculated  into 
masses  These  prisms  exhibit  joints  parallel  to  the 
sides,  and  to  the  diagonal,  of  a  rectangular  prism  The 
Dipyre  is  of  a  shini  g  vitreous  lustre,  is  hard  enough  to 
scratch  glass,  and  becomes  slightly  phosphorescent  by 
the  application  of  heat.  It  consists  of  60  of  silex,  24  o£ 
alumine,  10  of  lime,  and  2  of  water.  Its  sp.  gr.  is  about 
3,7. 

It  was  found  in  the  torrent  of  Mauleon,  in  the  west- 
am  Pyrennees,  in  a  gangue  of  white.,  or  reddish  steatite,, 
aiingled  with  sulphuret  of  iron. 

STILBITE^ 

,        V  ^j? 

Stilbite  is  of  a  peculiar  glistening  or  shiny  pearly  lus- 
ire,  by  which  it  may  be  recognized  at  once.  Its  colours 
are  white,  grey,  brown,  or  red  ;  it  is  transparent  or  trans- 
lucent,  and  not  sufficiently  hard  to  scratch  glass.  It  OG* 
ours  lamelliform,  massive,  and  crystallized  ;  the  crystal 
are  sometimes  fasciculated  into  slender  grisms  >; 


18  ELEMENTAllY  INTRODUCTION" 

form  of  the  primitive  crystal  is  a  right  prism  with  rec- 
tangular bases,  in  which  it  sometimes  occurs,  but  more 
often  these  prisms  are  terminated  by  tetrahedral  sum* 
dits.  It  consists  of  52  parts  of  silex,  17.  5  of  aluminc, 
9  of  lime,  and  18.  5  of  water.  Its  sp.  gr.  is  2,  5. 

The  Stilbite  is  met  with  in  the  fissures  of  primitive 
rocks;  in  mineral  veins;  and  in  the  cavities  of  amygda- 
loid. 

It  has  been  found  near  Grenoble,  of  a  pale  straw  co- 
our;  at  Andreasberg,  upon  carbonated  lime  ;  at  Aren-- 
dahl,  in  Norway,  of  a  brown  colour;  in  Iceland,  of  a 
shining  white  colour,  on  the  Iceland  spar  ;  in  the  islands 
of  Sky,  Staffa  and  Canna,  in  amygdaloid  ;  and  it  has 
been  met  with  massive,  of  an  orange  brown  colour,  at 
^Dumbarton  ;  at  Glen  Farg  in  Perthshire,  and  at  Callhitl 
in  Aberdeenshire. 

CAT'S  EYE. 

This  mineral  is  generally  brought  in  the  polished  state 
from  the  coast  of  Mal.tbar,  and  from  Ceylon ;  but  no- 
thing is  known  of  its  geological  situation.  Its  colour  is 
Of  various  shades  of  grey,  green,  brown,  or  red  ;  and  ft 
exhibits  a  peculiar  play  of  light,  resembling  the  eye  of 
the  animal  from  which  it  takes  its  name  ;  this  peculiar 
reflection,  emphatically  termed  by  the  French,  chato- 
yant, is  owing  to  the  fibrous  texture  of  the  substance,  a* 
rising,  as  it  has  been  supposed  by  some,  from  its  consist* 
tng  of  asbestus,  enclosed  in  quartz.  Its  specific  gravity 
is  about  2.  7.  It  is  composed  of  95  parts  of  silex,  1.  76 
of  alumine,  1.  5  of  lime,  and  0. 25  of  oxide  of  iron.  It 
«s  frequently  employed  as  a  precious  stone,  and  is  in 
Considerable  estimation. 

PREHNITE, 

This  mineral  is  of  a  pale  greenish  or  yellowish  colour. . 
with  a  shining  pearly  lustre,  and  is  somewhat  transparent; 
it  is  scarcely  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass,  and  becomes 
electric  by  heat.  It  occurs  in  very  minute  crystals, 
which  are  for  the  most  part  closely  aggregated ;  their 
primitive  form  is  a  right  rhomboidal  prism  of  103*.  and 


TO    MISERALOGF.  1 

77°  ;  the  prisms  sometimes  have  6  or  8  sides.  A  vari- 
ety which  occurs  in  small  translucent  lamellae,  of  a  yel- 
lowish white  colour,  and  glistening  pearly  lustre,  consists 
of  48  parts  of  silex,  24  of  alumine,  23  of  lime,  and  4  of 
oxide  of  iron.  The  prehnite  is  also  found  massive,  and 
consists  of  the  same  elements,  somewhat  differing  in  their 
respective  proportions,  together  with  about  2  per  cent 
of  water. 

Crystallized  prehnite  has  been  met  with  in  considers 
ble  quantity,  and  of  a  purer  green  than  that  of  Europe, 
at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ;  it  occurs  in  France  ;  in  the 
valley  of  Fascha  in  the  Tyrol,  accompanying  mesotypej 
and  at  Dunglasse  in  Scotland. 

The  lamelliform  variety,  called  the  Koupholite^  oc- 
curs near  Bareges,  and  the  peak  of  Eredlitz  in  the  Py- 
rennees,  in  a  gangue  of  cavernous  hornstone,  mingled 
with  chlorite,  &c. 

The  massive  is  found  in  France;- in  Scotland,  near 
Dumbarton  ;  at  Hartfield  Moor,  nearly  Paisley  ;  at  Fris- 
ky Hall,  near  Glasgow;  at  the  Castle  Rock,  near  Edin- 
burgh ;  and  in  the  Isle  of  Mull. 

The  Prehnite  seems  to  belong  to  rocks  of  early  for- 
mation, of  which  it  does  not  enter  into  the  composition; 
it  is  only  dis  eminated  in  small  quantity,  without  form- 
ing either  beds  or  veins. 

ZOYS1TE, 

ft; 

The  Zoysite,  which,  together  with  the  Thallite,  is  m- 
eluded  by  Haliy  under  the  name  of  EPIDOTE,  was  so 
©ailed  after  the  Baron  de  Zoys.  it  occurs  in  oblique 
ihomboidal  prisms,  of  a  grey,  greyish  or  yellow  or  browa 
colour,  with  a  pearly  lustre  and  translucent,  which  are 
rarely  perfect,  owing  to  deep  longitudinal  striae.  The 
Zoysite  consists  of  44  parts  of  silex,  32  of  alumine,  20  oi* 
Kme,  and  2.5  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  is  met  with  in  Caria- 
thia,  the  neighbourhood  of  Salzburg,  and  in  the  Tyrol,, 
fee* 


20  ELEMENTARY   INTEODUCTIOrT 


inOCEASE.  VESUVIAN.  BROWN  VOLCANIC    HYACINTH. 

Idocrase  occurs  massive,  but  more  often  crystallized 
In  groups,  consisting  of  short  quadrangular  prisms,  of 
\vhich  the  edges  are  variously  replaced,  and  variously 
terminated.  Haiiy  notices  eight  varieties  in  the  form  of  its 
crystals;  one  of  which,  if  complete,  would  have  presented 
90  planes  ;  16  on  the  prism,  and  37  on  each  summit ;  he 
considers  the  primitive  to  be  a  right  prism,  with  square 
bases,  differing  very  Itltle  from  the  proportions  of  the 
cube.  The  colour  of  the  Idocrase  is  mostly  brownish  or 
yellowish  green,  sometimes  orange,  with  a  resinous  lus- 
tre i  and  it  is  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass.  That  of 
Vesuvius  consists  of  silex  35.50,  alumine  33.  lime  22.254 
and  oxide  of  iron  7.50.  Its  specific  gravity  varies  from 
3.088  to  3.409.  It  possesses  double  refraction. 

It  has  been  met  with  both  in  volcanic,  and  in  primitive 
countries.  It  occurs  in  the  midst  of  the  projected  masses 
of  Vesuvius  and  Etna;  where  its  crystals,  which  exhibit 
no  appearance  of  change  by  heat,  line  the  cavities  of  vol- 
canic rocks,  principally  composed  of  felspar,  mica,  talcf 
and  carbonated  lirne ;  and  are  accompanied  by  garnet, 
hornblende,  meionite,  &tc. 

The  Idocrase  has  also  been  found  in  Siberia,  in  a 
greenish  white  serpentine,  near  the  lake  Achtaragdas 
and  on  the  banks  of  Vilhoui ;  and  in  massive  veins  pass-* 
ing  through  green  serpentine,  in  the  plain  of  Mussa  in 
Piedmont.  It  has  been  found  also  in  the  counties  of 
Wicklow  and  Donegal,  in  Ireland. 

It  is  cut  and  polished  by  the  lapidaries  of  Naples;  er,* 
der  the  name  Cri/solite  of  Vesuvius, 


TO    MI2?ER1LO<3V.  21 


GARNET.* 

The  Garnet  is  a  reddish,  yellowish,  greenish,  or  black- 
ish brown  colour  ;  it  is  found  in  small  granular  masses, 
and  crystallized  in  the  form  of  the  dodecahedron  with 
rhomboidal  planes,  which  is  considered  to  be  the  form 
of  its  primitive  crystal.  It  also  occurs  in  crystals  having 
24  trapezoidal  faces  ;  only  5  or  6  varieties  have  been 
described.  It  is  harder  than  quartz,  but  not  so  hard  as 
the  alamandine.  It  is  rarely  transparent,  frequently 
opake.  It  consists  of  43  parts  of  silex,  16  of  alumine,  20 
of  lime,  and  16  of  oxide  of  iron. 

The  alamandine,  allochroite,  melanite,  aplome  and 
garnet,  are  commonly  arranged  together  under  the  lat- 
ter name  ;  but  their  elementary  constituents  do  not  cor- 
respond. 

Garnets  are  very  abundant ;  they  principally  occur  dis- 
seminated among  some  of  the  older  rocks,  as  micaceous 
schistus,  serpentine,  and  gneiss,  and  sometimes  in  granite. 
They  are  met  with  in  most  countries  in  which  those 
rocks  occur,  and  sometimes  are  so  plentiful  as  almost  to 
constitute  the  mass.  They  are  found  also  in  mineral 
veins,  accompanying  some  of  the  ores  of  copper,  lead, 
magnetic  iron,  niispickel,  £c.  In  the  mountains  sepa- 
rating Stiria  and  Cariothia,  they  are  met  with  upwards 
of  21bs.  in  weight,  in  a  bed  of  green  talc.  In  Bohemia 
they  are  fourjd  of  a  brown  colour,  accompanying  tin ; 
in  Siberia  of  a  pale  green,  in  lithoraarga  ;  at  ropscbair, 
in  Hungary,  of  an  emeral  green,  in  serpentine  :  in  Corsi- 

*  Gar«£/.~Garnets  are  found  in  the  county  of  New  York,  cryftallized 
in  twelve  fided  figures,  as  large  as  hazel-nuts.  Mica  is  frequently  affociir 
ted  with  them  in  chefe  cryftalline  forms.  They  are  bedded  in  gniefs, 
micaceous  fchifc,  and  granite,  anda;-c  feparated  by  the  cold- chifiel.  Gra- 
nite is  not  uncommonly  aftbciated  with  black  schoerl,  as  in  the  fine 
rounded  fpecimens  from  Hurtleberry  ifland.  It  occurs  in  conjunction 
with  quartz.  Mica  is  often  blended  with  garnet.  Indeed  garnet  mingles 
abundantly  with  the  ingredients  of  gniefs,  granite,  and  micaceous  fchift,  in 
binary,  ternary,  and  quarternary  forms, 

I  have  beautiful  fpecimens  of  dodecahedral  garnets,  of  nearly  the  fize  of 
peas,  from  Norway ;  and  fome  have  very  large  and  complete  ones  from, 
the  North-weft  coaft  of  America. 

•  Is  fometimes  maflive,  and  forngtimcs  it?  grains  are  compared  into  gar- 
,net-rcck. 


22  ELEMENTARV    INTRODUCTION 

ca,  of  a  yellow  colour  ;  in  the  Grisons,  £c.  of  an  orange 
colour;  in  Cornwall,  in  small  quantity,  in  argillaceous 
schistus  :  they  are  not  uncommon  in  Scotland,  in  mica- 
ceous schistus  ;  and  are  found  in  some  parts  of  Ire 
land. 

CINNAMON-STONE. 

*'=•   . 

This  rare  mineral  has  only  been  met  wilh  at  Colurn- 
bo,  in  the  island  of  Ceylon.  It  is  known  in  Holland  by 
the  name  of  Kanelstien,  signifying  cinnamon-stone,  pro 
bably  from  its  resemblance  to  cinnamon  in  colour.  Ik 
geological  situation  is  not  known.  It  occurs  massive,  o» 
in  detached  fragments,  which  are  full  of  cracks,  and 
usually  of  a  yellowish  brown,  passing  into  orange  yellow 
and  hyacinth  red.  It  is  somewhat  transparent,  with  a 
vitreous-resinous  lustre,  and  scratches  quartz,  though 
with  some  difficulty.  By  analysis  it  affords  38.8  of  silex, 
25.2  of  alumine,  31-25  of  lime,  and  6.5  of  oxide  of  iron. 
Its  sp.  gr-  is  3.6.  By  some,  it  is  considered  as  bearing 
considerable  affinity  to  the  Garnet. 


TRIPOLI. 


Tripoli  obtained  its  appelation  from  being  first 
brought  from  a  place  of  that  name  in  Africa  :  it  has 
since  been  found  in  other  places.  This  mineral  has 
generally  an  argillaceous  aspect.  It  is  sometimes  of  a 
schistose  structure,  but  is  more  often  massive,  with  a 
coarse,  dull,  earthy  fracture  ;  and  is  meagre  and  rough 
to  the  touch,  and  yeilds  easily  to  the  nail.  It  occurs  of 
various  shades  of  grey,  yellow,  and  red  ;  and  is  said  con- 
stantly to  yield  90  parts  of  silex,  the  rest  being  argil,  iron, 
and  sometimes  a  small  portion  of  lime. 

Tripoli  is  found  in  beds  at  Menat  near  Resin,  in  the 
Puy  de  Dome  ;  in  Tuscany,  it  is  met  with  at  Volterra, 
so  situated,  as  to  seem  the  consequence  of  the  decom- 
position of  chalcedony  ;  and  at  Post-Cbappel  in  Saxo- 
ny, in  a  mountain  containing  coal.  It  is  also  found  in 
Flanders3  Westphalia,  and  Russia, 


TO   MINERALOGY.  23 

It  is  used  in  polishing  metals,  marble,  glass,  and  other 
hard  bodies. 

BOLE.  * 

Bole  or  Ochre  is  always  somewhat  compact ;  it  is  ei- 
ther red,  yellow,  or  brown  :  it  yields  to  the  nail,  adheres 
to  the  tongue,  and  gives  a  shining  streak  on  paper  : — • 
\vhen  breathed  on,  it  gives  out  a  sensible  argillaceous 
odour  ;  it  breaks  down  in  water,  with  which  it  may  be 
reduced  to  the  consistence  of  a  paste 

Red  Chalk  or  Reddle  is  by  some  considered  as  a  va- 
riety of  bole  ;  but  from  its  containing  a  large  proportion 
of  iron,  it  has  lately  been  placed  among  its  ores. 

A  variety,  of  a  lighter  colour  than  red  chalk,  is  bro't 
from  Armenia,  and  is  commonly  known  by  the  name  of 
Bole  armenic. 

Another  variety,  found  in  Lemnos,  when  impressed 
by  the  seal  of  the  governor  of  the  island,  or  of  the  Grand 
Seignor,  is  sold  under  the  name  of  terra  sigillata.  It  is 
used  in  medicine.  Red  bole  is  found  near  Estremos  in 
Portugal. 

Bole  of  a  yellow  colour  occurs  in  beds,  between  those 
of  sand,  and  therefore  belongs  to  the  newest  secondary 
formation.  It  becomes  red  by  exposure  to  heat.  It  is 
met  with  at  several  places  in  France  ;  that  of  Auxerre 
is  composed  of  65  of  silex,  9  of  alumine,  5  of  lime,  and 
20  of  oxide  of  iron. 

The  red  brown  earth  of  Sienna,  used  as  a  pigment,  is 
considered  to  be  a  variety  of  bole. 

Bole  of  a  brown  colour,  or  of  a  yellowish  brown,  is 
commonly  known  as  a  pigment,  by  the  name  of  bistre  £ 
it  is  found  in  the  island  of  Cyprus,  but  nothing  is  known 
of  its  geological  situation.  It  is  used  in  porcelain  pain- 
ting. 

Boles  are  considered  as  coloured  marles  or  clays, 

*'J?o/«.— Ochres  of  various  hues  are  found  in  the  United  States.  New" 
York,  New-Jerfey,  Delaware,  and  Louifiana,  have  furnifhed  yellow 
ochres,  red  ochres,  brown  ochres,  of  many  {hades  and  hues,  and  which 
mix  well  with  oil  into  paints. 


24  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 


CLAY 

The  substances  comprehended  under  the  term  of 
Clay,  may  be  generally  described  as  any  earthy  mixture 
which  possesses  plasticity  and  ductility  when  kneaded 
up  with  water.  Few,  if  any  of  the  substances  possessing 
tbese  characters,  can,  strictly  speaking,  be  considered 
as  constituting  a  distinct  mineral  species ;  being,  in 
general,  the  result  of  the  decomposition  of  rocks* 
Clay,  when  moist,  is  plastic  ;  somewhat  unctuous  to  the 
touch,  and  acquires  a  polish  by  being  rubbed  with  the 
finger  or  the  nail ;  when  dry,  it  is  solid  ;  when  burnt, 
sufficiently  hard  to  give  sparks  with  the  steel,  and  is  in- 
iusible.  Clays,  generally  speaking,  have  not  been  ana- 
lyzed ;  though  it  is  suspected  that  the  proportions  of 
their  constituent  principles  vary  considerably.  They 
are  considered  in  the  aggregate  to  consist  of  a  large 
proportion  of  silex,  mixed  with  a  third  or  fourth  of 
their  weight  of  alumine,  occasionally  with  a  small  quan- 
tity of  lime,  a  variable  proportion  of  oxide  of  iron,  and 
some  water. 

In  the  term  Earthy  Clay,  may  be  comprehended 
common  brick  earth,  or  loam,  and  common  alluvial 
clay. 

brick  earth  or  Loam  varies  very  much  in  appearance^ 
texture,  and  composition.  It  usually  contains  a  consi- 
derable proportion  of  sand  ;  which,  nevertheless,  is  fre- 
quently added  by  the  brick  maker.  It  is  commonly  met 
with  above  common  alluvial  clay,  and  frequently  rests 
upon  an  interposed  bed  of  sand.  The  organic  remains 
contained  in  it  are  few. 

Common  alluvial  Clay  occurs  principally  in  low  coun 
tries,  in  which  it  serves  to  fill  up  hollows  ;  it  frequently 
rises  into  hills,  which  sometimes  are  stratified.  In  many 
countries  considerable  tracts  consist  principally  of  clay 
to  a  great  depth,  as  in  the  London  chalk  basin,  which 
lias  been  perforated  in  some  places  to  the  depth  of  .500 
feet,  without  passing  through  it  ;  it  contains  the  remains 
©f  large  land  and  sea  animals,  and  sometimes  vegetable 
remains  are  found  in  the  same  bed  ;  occasionally  at  va- 
rious depth,  beds  of  fine  white  sand  are  met  with,  Pe* 


TO  MINERALOGT,  £5 

posites  or  beds  of  clay  are  considered  to  consist  of  the 
debris  or  ruin  of  rocks,  and  are  regarded  among  the 
principal  causes  of  the  formation  and  duration  of  springs. 
The  water  which  percolates  the  secondary  country,  bor- 
dering the  deposites  of  clay,  passes  beneath  them,  and 
is  retained  untill  some  opening  permits  it  to  rise  in  the 
shape  of  a  spring,  or  until  vent  is  given  to  these  reser- 
voirs by  the  sinking  of  wells. 

Pipe  Clay*  is  of  a  greyish  or  yellowish  white  colour,  an 
earthy  fracture,  and  smooth  greasy  feel ;  it  adheres  pret- 
ty strongly  to  the  tongue,  and  is  very  plastic  and  tena- 
cious. It  is  manufactured  into  tobacco  pipes,  and  is  the 
basis  of  the  Queen's  ware  pottery. 

Potters'  Clay\  is  plastic,  slaty.  It  yields  to  the  nail ; 
is  generally  of  a  reddish,  bluish  or  greenish  colour,  and 
has  a  soft  and  often  greasy  feel  When  mixed  with 
sand,  it  is  made  into  bricks  and  tiles.  A  variety  found 
in  the  forest  of  Dreux,  in  France,  employed,  on  account 
of  its  infusibility,  in  the  making  of  tiles  for  the  porcelain 
furnaces,  consists  of  43  parts  of  silex,  33  of  alumine,  3  of 
lime,  1  of  iron,  and  18  of  water.  Most  part  of  the  clay 
used  in  the  potteries  of  Staffordshire  and  Newcastle  upon 
Tyne,  is  said  to  be  found  near  Teignmouth  in  Devon- 
shire. That  of  Hampshire  yields  by  analysis,  51  parts  of 
silex,  25  of  alumine,  3  of  lime,  with  a  trace  of  manga- 
nese and  some  water. 

Porcelain  c/m/J  is  greyish  or  yellowish-white,  or  more 
often  reddish- white  ;  it  adheres  to  the  tongue,  is  meagre 
to  the  feel,  and  is  commonly  friable  ;  but  if  compact,  is 
easily  broken.  It  falls  to  pieces  in  water  and  becomes 
plastic,  though  not  in  a  very  great  degree.  That  which  ig 
found  inconsiderable  beds  in  the  parish  of  St.  Stephen's  ia 
Cornwall,  consists,  according  to  Wedgwood,  of  60  parts 
of  alumine  and  40  of  silex.  It  seems  undoubtedly  to 

*  Pipe  Clay.  Pipes  for  fmoking  have  been  made  of  a  kind  of  Clay  in 
the  town  of  Oyfterbay,  Long  Ifland.  The  pipes,  however,  were  deficient 
in  folidity  and  ftrength. 

f  Potters  Clay,  (ibid.)  Clay,  for  earthen  ware  and  ftone  ware,  abound*' 
ill  a  great  number  of  places. 

|  Porcelain  Clay.  The  experiments  made  in  the  city  of  New- York, 
prove  that  porcelain  clay  »s  found  in  this  country.  Elegant  pieces  of  porce- 
lain, equal  to  the  Chinefc,  or  even  the  French,  have  been  made -from 
domeftic  maceriala, 

c 


6  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

originate  from  the  decomposition  of  felspar;  it  frequent- 
ly  contains  portions  of  quartz  and  of  mica.  The  origin 
of  porcelain  clay,  in  the  general,  is  not  however  well 
understood.  It  differs  materially  in  respect  of  compo- 
sition. The  Kaolin  of  China  consists  of  71.15  of  silex, 
15.86  of  alumine,  1.92  of  lime,  and  6.73  of  water.  It  is 
found  largely  in  France,  and  granitic  countries,  and 
therefore  seems  to  have  the  same  origin  as  that  of 
Cornwall. 

Indurated  day  is  met  with  interposed  between  beds  of 
coal  at  Stourbridge  in  Worcestershire,  and  at  Coalbrook 
Dale  in  Shropshire.  It  is  sometimes  called  Stourbridge 
day  orjlre  clay.  It  occurs  massive,  and  in  large  com- 
pressed nodules  of  a  greyish  white  colour,  with  a  tinge 
of  blue  or  yellow  ;  it  yields  readily  to  the  knife,  and  is 
very  refractory  in  the  fire  ;  by  exposure  to  the  air  it 
becomes  soft  and  falls  to  pieces,  and  then  becomes 
plastic. 

PORCELLAN1TE. 

Porcellanite  is  found  massive,  and  of  a  slaty  structure, 
Its  colour  varies  from  grey  to  bluish  grey,  mixed  with 
red  ;  ochry  yellow  ;  greyish  or  bluish-black-  It  is 
opake,  and  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass  ;  but  it  is  not 
abundant  $  being  principally,  if  not  exclusively  found  in 
places  in  which  mines  of  coal  have  been  in  a  state  of 
combustion  ;  and  is  regarded  as  shale  altered  by  heat. 
At  Mount  Brussant,  near  St.  Etienne,  in  France,  it  is 
composed  of  layers,  alternately  grey  and  red  ;  that  of 
Bchlangenberg,  in  Bohemia,  is  of  a  dull  green  colour. 

MELANITE.* 

The  Melanite  is  usually  black  and  opake,  and  occurs 

*  Melanite.  At  Gcrmantown  it  has  been  found  of  a  velvet  black  co- 
lour, of  cenfiderable  luflre,  varying  from  the  fize  of  a  pin-head  to  an  inchx 
in  diameter.  The  cryftals  are  polyhedrons,  with  twenty-four  trapezoidal 
faces  :  fpecific  gravity  3.616.  It  reft*  in  the  gneiss,  which  rcpofes  on  gra- 
nite, of  which  the  feldfpath  is  fnow  white,  and  has  a  high  degree  of  tranf- 
parcncy.  Though  cryftals  of  tourmaline,  mica,  phofphate  of  lime,  and 
Dcryl,  are  universally  difleminated,  there  is  no  melanite,  except  in  this  one 
particular  place.— Wistar,  Am.  Min.  Jour.  f.  31. 


TO    MINERALOGY.  21 

in  the  form  of  a  rbomboidal  dodecahedron,  of  which 
the  edges  are  commonly  replaced  by  planes.  It  consists 
of  about  35  parts  of  silex,  6  of  alumine,  32  of  lime,  25  of 
oxide  of  iron,  and  a  trace  of  oxide  of  manganese.  The 
Melanite  is  usually  arranged  among  garnets.  It  has 
been  found  in  Italy,  at  Frascati,  near  Vesuvius,  in  a 
volcanic  rock,  enclosing  also  felspar,  idocrase  and 
hornblende  :  it  also  occurs  in  the  calcareous  rocks  of 
Somma. 

APLOME. 

The  Aplome  is  usually  considered  a  variety  of  the 
garnet,  with  which  it  agrees  in  respect  of  its  external  fi- 
gure, but  differs  in  containing  manganese.  It  commonly 
occurs  in  rhomboidal  dodecahedrons,  of  which  the 
planes  are  striated  parallel  with  their  lesser  diagonal  ; 
they  are  usually  of  a  deep  brown,  or  orange-brown  co- 
lour, opake,  and  somewhat  harder  than  quartz  ;  it  con- 
sists of  40  of  silex,  20  of  alumine,  14..*>  of  lime,  14.5  of 
oxide  of  iron,  and  2  of  oxide  of  manganese.  The  ap- 
lome  is  found  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Lena  in  Siberia* 
Garnets  of  a  yellowish  green  colour  have  been  met  with 
at  Swartzenberg,  in  Saxony,  which  have  considerable 
affinity  to  this  mineral. 

THALLITE.     ACANT1CONITE. 

This  mineral  is  found  granular,  massive,  or  crystallized 
in  six,  eight,  or  twelve  sided  prisms,  variously  termina- 
ted and  longitudinally  striated  ;  and  is  of  a  green,  yel- 
lowish, bluish,  or  blackish-green  colour,  of  a  shining 
lustre,  and  somewhat  transparent.  The  primitive  crystal 
is  a  right  prism,  of  which  the  bases  are  oblique-angled 
parallelograms.  Haiiy  includes  this  mineral  and  the 
zoisite  under  the  term  epidote  The  crytallized  thallite 
consists  of  37  parts  of  silex,  21  of  alumine,  15  of  lime, 
24  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  1.5  of  oxide  of  manganese  ;  and 
its  specific  gravity  is  3.45  :  but  the  granular  variety,  in 
the  form  of  a  green  sand,  varies  in  respect  of  the  propor- 
tions of  its  elements, 


28  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 


The  Thallite  is  not  often  found  massive,  but  chiefly 
in  crystals,  varying  in  size  from  the  acicular  to  near  an 
inch  in  diameter ;  the  acicular  are  met  with  in  the  de- 
partment of  Iser6,  in  France  ;  at  Chamouni,  in  the  Alps. 
&c. ;  the  larger  occur  at  Arendahl,  in  Norway.  It  be- 
longs exclusively  to  primitive  rocks,  but  is  only  found  in 
veins  and  fissures ;  magnetic  iron,  garnet,  felspar,  adu- 
laria,  axinite,  and  asbestus,  are  the  minerals  which 
ehiefly  accompany  thallite. 

WERNERITE. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  greenish-grey  or  olive-green  co- 
lour, with  a  lustre  between  pearly  and  resinous  ;  it  is 
softer  than  felspar,  and  yields  to  the  knife.  It  occurs 
massive,  and  in  eight-sided  prisms  with  four-sided 
pyramids.  It  consist  of  40  parts  of  silex,  Tj4  of  alu- 
mine,  16  of  lime,  8  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  1.5  of  oxide 
of  manganese. 

The  wernerite  is  a  rare  mineral  ;  it  is  met  with  in  ir- 
regular grains  or  rrytallized,  disseminated  in  rocks  com- 
posed of  a  greyish  or  of  a  red  felspar,  intermingled  witfa 
quartz,  at  Bouoen,  near  Arendahl  in  Norway  ;  in  the 
tnines  of  Nortbo  and  of  Ulrica  in  Sweden,  and  at  Cam- 
po-longo  in  Switzerland. 

TOURMALINE.* 

Tourmaline  in  respect  of  colour,  is  either  white, 
green,  blue,  brown,  yellow  or  black  ;  it  occurs  in  crystals 
which  are  striated,  or  rather  deeply  channelled,  length- 
wise ;  their  lustre  is  splendent  or  vitreous,  and  they  are 
scarcely  so  hard  as  quartz.  It  is  remarkable  that  this 
substance  is  either  translucent  or  transparent  when  held 

*  Tourmaline.  Very  large  cryftals  of  black  tourmaline  have  been  found 
in  the  primitive  and  granitical  rocks,  near  New  York,  Philadelphia,  and 
Brunfwick  in  Maine.  Indigo  tourmalines  of  nearly  an  inch  in  diameter 
have  been  brought  from  Northampton,  Maf».  They  are  of  a  deep  indigo 
blue,  almofl  approaching  to  black.  They  are  bedded  in  granite,  with 
quartz,  feldfpath  and  reddifh  mica,  of  remarkably  coarfe  and  diftinct  parts. 
Green  tourmalines  are  found  with  them,  in  long  cryftals. 

Red  Schoerls,  or  Rubellites,  accompany  the  green  fchoerls.  The  latter 
have  bccu  feen  to  referable  a  tube  or  canal  filled  up  by  the  former,  Such 


TO   MINERALOCT,  29 

up  to  the  light,  and  viewed  in  a  direction  perpendicular 
to  the  axis  of  the  prism  ;  but  if  viewed  perpendicular  to 
the  bases,  is  always  opake,  even  though  the  prism  be 
short.  Seventeen  varieties  in  the  form  of  the  crystal 
have  been  described  ;  their  primitive  form  is,  according 
to  Haiiy,  an  obtuse  rhomboid  of  133°.  26'  and  46°.  34. 
The  crystals  become  electric  by  being  heated,  and 
thereby  acquire  polarity  ;  and  their  summits  or  pyramids 
are  always  dissimilar.  That  which  presents  the  greatest 
number  of  faces  always  exhibits  the  positive  or  vitreous 
electricity  ;  and  that  having  the  smaller  number,  always 
the  negative,  or  resinous.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about 
3. 

The  green  tourmaline  of  Brazil  is  composed  of  40 
parts  ofsilex,  39  of  alumine,  3. 84  of  lime,  12.5  of  oxide 
of  iron,  and  2  of  oxide  of  manganese. 

The  white  variety  was  found  at  St  Gothard  in  mica- 
ceous dolamite  by  Dolomieu,  who  mentions  having  dis- 
covered some  in  the  granite  of  Elba,  the  half  of  which 
was  white,  the  other  half  black.  The  yellow  variety 
has  been  noticed  in  sand  from  Ceylon.  Tourmalines  of 
a  dull  green,  or  of  a  bluish-green,  are  from  Brazil ;  those 
of  an  emerald-green,  from  Cevlon.  A  variety  of  an  in- 
digo-blue-colour, thence  called  Indicolite,  has  been  found 
in  the  mine  of  Utoe  in  Sweden,  in  crystals  of  an  inde- 
terminate form,  disseminated  in  a  gangue  of  steatite, 
quartz,  and  felspar. 

AXINITE.      THUMERSTONE. 

This  mineral  derived  its  name  of  Thumcrstone,  from 
having  been  first  met  with  at  Thum  in  Saxony.  It  oc- 
curs in  laoielliform  concretions,  and  crystallized.  The 

ipaffes  of  red  fchoerl,  incafed  by  green,  have  a  peculiar  and  beautiful  ef- 
fect. Sometimes  the  red  inclofes  the  green.  Thefe  fingular  forms  led 
Dr.  Bruce  to  fend  fpecimens  to  Profefibr  Haiiy,  who  has  thought  them 
irorthy  of  a  fpecial  difiertation.  This  intcrefting  tract  has  been  transla- 
ted  by  Dr.  P.  S.  Townfend,  for  the  New- York  Lyceum  of  Natural  Histo- 
ry, and  publiflied  in  Meffrs.  Biglow  &  Holley's  Magazine.  I  own  my 
obligations,  for  a  fet  of  -very  fine  fpecimens,  to  Ezra  Weeks,  Efq.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Schaeffer  and  other  gentlemen  brought  curious  fpecimens  of  a 
fine  needle-like  indicolite,  from  a  detached  rock  in  the  city  pf  New-Yorkl 
Ih  tbefe  pieces,  green  often  accompanied  the  blue. 

c  2 


30  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

lamelliform,  of  a  dingy  violet  colour,  is  found  at  Ehren- 
friedersdorf  in  Saxony.  The  same  variety,  of  a  dull  clove- 
brow^,  is  found  at  Botallack,  near  the  Land's  End  in 
Cornwall ;  sometimes  also  it  is  crystallized,  though  not 
very  determinately.  The  most  beautiful  is  met  with  in 
a  serpentine  rock  at  Balme  d'Auris  in  Dauphine  ;  gene- 
rally in  neat  and  well  defined  crystals,  sometimes  nearly 
colourless  and  transparent,  but  more  often  of  a  dull  red- 
dish violet  colour  and  translucent ;  whence  it  has  obtain- 
ed the  name  of  Violet  Schorl  of  Dauphine.  The  crystals 
in  rny  possession  exhibit  18  varieties  of  form,  which  are 
tiot  symmetrical.  This  want  of  symmetry  is  common  to 
those  substances,  which,  like  the  axinite,  become  elec- 
trical by  exposure  to  heat.  The  primitive  crystal  of  the 
axinite  is  a  remarkably  flat  right  rhomboidal  prism,  of 
which  the  bases  are  oblique  angled  parallelograms  of 
78°£  and  101°g  according  to  Haiiy ;  but  the  measure- 
ments obtained  by  the  Teflecting  goniometer  do  not  cor- 
respond with  the  results  obtained  by  him.  The  axinite 
is  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass,  but  less  hard  than  quartz ; 
its  specific  gravity  is  about  3.2  ;  and  it  consists  of  44  of 
silex,  18  of  alumiue,  19  of  lime,  14  of  oxide  of  iron,  and 
4  of  oxide  of  manganese. 

It  has  only  been  met  with  in  veins  and  fissures  of  pri- 
tnitive  rocks,  and  is  not  very  abundant.  Besides  the 
places  above  mentioned,  it  occurs  in  the  peak  of  Ered- 
litz  in  the  Pyrennees,  upon  a  gangue  of  quartz,  accompa- 
nied by  carbonate  of  lime  ;  near  Alenc,on  in  granite  ;  at 
Mount  Atlas,  in  Africa ;  near  Kongsberg  in  Norway,  in 
<a  white  laminated  calcareous  rock,  accompanied  by  black 
mica,  quartz,  and  sometimes  native  silver. 

ALLOCHROITE. 

The  Allochroite,  is  of  a  greyish,  dingy  yellow,  or  red- 
dish colour,  and  opake ;  it  is  not  so  hard  as  quartz.  It 
consists  of  35  parts  of  silex,  8  of  alumine,  30.5  of  lirne, 
17  of  oxide  of  iron,  3.5  of  oxide  of  manganese,  and  6  of 
Carbonate  of  lime.  It  is  commonly  considered  as  a  va- 
ciety  of  the  garnet,  from  which  it  differs  in  respect  of 
composition. 

The  Allochroite  is  found  in  the  iron  onine  of  Virums, 

'     '"^ 


rTO   MINERALOGY*  Si 

-•  «••'  '  '- 

near  Drammen  in  Norway,  accompanied  by  carbonate 

of  lime,  Hematites  iron,  and  brown  garnets. 

LAPIS    LAZULI. 

This  mineral  is  found  massive,  and  of  a  fine  azure 
blue  colour ;  its  texture  is  fine  grained  or  compact,  and 
it  is  bard  enough  to  scratch  glass,  though  it  scarcely 
gives  sparks  by  the  steel.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.76  to 
2.94.  Its  blue  colour  is  not  uniform,  as  it  frequently  en- 
closes iron  pyrites,  compact  felspar,  and  quartz.  It  is 
said  to  have  been  met  with  crystallized  in  the  form  of 
a  rhomboidal  dodecahedron ;  but  as  the  crystal  was  o- 
pake,  and  enclosed  iron  pyrites  and  carbonate  of  lime, 
there  seems  no  sufficient  proof  of  its  being  true  Lapis 
Lazuli  ;  which  according  to  Klaproth,  consists  of  46  of 
silex,  14of  alumine,  28  of  carbonate  of  lime,  6.5  of  sul- 
phate of  lime,  3  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  2  of  water. 

It  has  been  found  in  small  masses  enclosed  in  primi- 
tive rocks,  principally  in  granites,  accompanied  by  felspar, 
pyrites,  garnet  and  carbonate  of  lime  ;  but  is  more  often 
found  in  small  masses  rounded  by  attrition  ;  as  on  the 
borders  of  the  lake  Baikal  in  Siberia.  The  finest  speci- 
mens are  brought  from  China,  Persia,  and  Great  Bucha- 
ria. 

Lapis  lazuli  is  used  in  jewellery,  but  is  chiefly  impor- 
tant as  affording  that  beautiful  pigment  called  ultra- 
marine, so  highly  valued  by  painters  on  account  of  its 
great  advantage  of  not  changing  by  time  wand  expo- 
sure, 

EGYPTIAN   JASPER, 

This  mineral  is  more  commonly  known  by  the  name 
of  Egyptian  Pebble.  It  occurs  in  roundish  masses  which 
are  externally  rough,  and  generally  of  a  brown  colour. 
Internally  ik  is  usually  of  a  light  colour,  which  sometimes 
approaches  to  that  of  cream,  around  which  are  disposed 
irregular  zones  or  bands  of  various  shades  ef  browna 
sometimes  intermixed  with  nearly  black  spots,  and  oc^ 
sasionally  dendritic  appearances.  Its  specific  gravity  is 


32  ELEMENTARY  INTBODUCTION 

2.5 — 2.6 ;  by  one  analysis  which  does  seem  to  have 
been  complete,  it  yielded  75  parts  of  silex,  15  of  alumine 
and  5  of  magnesia. 

It  is  found  according  to  Dr.  Clarke,  in  vast  abundance, 
together  with  masses  and  detached  fragments  of  petri- 
fied wood,  among  which  are  several  varieties  of  the  palm, 
scattered  over  the  surface  of  the  sandy  desert,  eastward 
of  Grand  Cairo,  even  to  the  borders  of  the  Red 
Sea. 

It  is  susceptible  of  a  high  polish,  and  is  therefore  of- 
ten applied  to  ornamental  purposes. 

THEM  0  LITE. 

The  general  colour  of  Tremolite  is  white,  which 
sometimes  has  a  greenish,  bluish,  yellowish  or  reddish 
tinge ;  it  occurs  fibrous,  and  crystalized  in  four,  six,  or 
eight-sided  prisms,  terminated  by  diedral  summits,  and 
is  semi-transparent  or  translucent,  and  hard  enough  to 
scratch  glass.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  3  ;  the  fibrous 
variety  of  Clicker  Tor  in  Cornwall  is  composed  of  62.2 
of  silex,  14.1  of  lime,  12.9  of  magnesia,  5.9  of  oxide  of 
iron,  and  1  of  water. 

It  was  first  discovered  in  the  valley  of  Tremola  near 
St  Gothard,  whence  its  name ;  it  has  since  been  met  with 
in  Hungary,  Transylvania  and  Bohemia.  In  Corsica,  it 
occurs  in  lamellar  bluish  green  talc ;  near  Nantes,  in 
granite  abounding  in  felspar :  at  Somma,  in  granular 
carbonate  of  lime  ;  and  in  Bengal :  in  lamellar  limestone, 
in  the  banks  of  the  lake  Baikal  in  Siberia,  whence  it  has 
been  called  Baikalite  ;  in  Glen  Tilt  and  Glen  Egg  ia 
Aberdeenshire,  in  white  primitive  limestone  ;  in  Corn- 
wall, it  is  found  at  Clicker  Tor.  A  fibrous  specimen  in 
jny  possession  from  Stony  Gwins  in  that  county,  is  de- 
posited on  quartz,  and  accompanied  by  small  yellow 
crystals  of  uranite. 

MEERSCHAUM. 

Meerschaum  is  of  a  whitish  or  yellowish  white  colour, 
cpake  and  dull  ;  it  has  an  earthy  fracture,  yields  easily 
to  the  nail,  and  adheres  strongly  to  the  tongue  j  some* 


TO  1IYNEBALOGY.  3g 

times  it  is  so  light  as  to  swim  on  water,  and  occasionally 
is  very  porous  :  this  last  characteristic  has  doubtless  oo 
easioned  its  name,  which  signifies  sea-foam.  It  consists 
of  50.5  per  cent,  of  silex,  17.25  of  magnesia,  0.5  of  lime, 
5  of  carbonic  acid,  and  '25  of  water. 

It  occurs  in  the  isle  of  Samos  and  Negropont  in  the 
Archipelago,  in  mass,  or  disseminated,  or  in  beds  :  at 
Kiltschik  in  Natolia,  it  fills  a  vein  about  six  feet  wide^ 
traversing  compact  grey  carbonate  of  lime;  it  is  soft 
when  first  dug,  and  in  that  state  is  made  into  pipes,  but 
hardens  by  exposure  to  air.  It  is  also  met  with  in  Ca- 
rinthia. 

In  the  Turkish  dominions,  Meerschaum  is  employed 
as  fuller's  earth  is  with  us  ;  and  by  the  women  as  soap 
for  washing  their  hair.  In  Constantinople  it  is  termed 
Keffekil  or  earth  of  KafFa,  the  town  of  the  Crimea, 
whence  it  is  shipped. 

A  substance  somewhat  similar  to  Meerschaum  has 
been  found  at  (artel  del  Piano  near  Sienna,  consisting 
of  55  of  silex,  25  of  magnesia,  12  of  alumine,  3  of  lime, 
and  0.1  of  oxide  of  iron  ;  it  was  made  into  bricks  so  light 
as  to  swim  on  water,  thus  restoring  one  of  the  lost  arts  re- 
corded by  Strabo  and  Pliny. 

Another  substance,  consisting  of  55  of  silex,  22  of 
magnesia,  and  23  of  water,  and  of  a  chocolate  brown  co- 
lour, is  found  at  Salinelle  near  Sommieres,  in  beds,  ia 
chalk  containing  silex :  and  in  various  places  in  Pied- 
mont, a  substance  of  a  white  colour,  consisting,  when 
fresh  dug,  of  silex,  magnesia,  and  water,  is  found  in  beds 
and  in  veins  :  by  exposure  to  air  it  absorbs  carbonic 
acid. 

ANTHOPHYLLITF* 

• 

The  Anthophyllite  has  hitherto  only  been  found  at 
Kongsberg  in  Norway ;  it  occurs  massive,  with  joints 
parallel  to  the  faces  of  a  rectangular  prism,  is  feebly 
translucent  on  the  edges,  and  has  a  slight  metallic  lustre  ; 
it  is  scarcely  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  about  3.3.  By  analysis  it  is  found  to  consist 
of  62.66  of  silex,  13.33  of  alumine,  4  of  magnesia,  12  of 
oxide  of  iron,  3.25  of  oxide  of  manganese,  and  1.43  of 
water. 


34  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

Some  of  the  characters  of  the  Anthophyllite  have  in* 
duced  Haiiy  to  suppose  that  it  is  only  a  varif  ty  of  the 
Hypersthene  ;  but  their  elements  do  not  correspond. 

HARMOTOME.        CROSS    STONE. 

The  barmotome  is  commonly  met  with  in  flattish 
quadrangular  prisms,  terminated  by  four  rhombic  planes, 
crossing  each  other  lengthwise  and  at  right  angles.  It  is 
also  met  with  in  solitary  crystals.  Their  primitive  form, 
according  to  Haiiy,  is  a  rectangular  octohedron  of  86°  36' 
and  83°  24'  ;  but  this  is  not  confirmed  by  the  reflecting 
goniometer,  which  gives  results  differing  about  2'.  I 
possess  crystals  of  the  harmotome  in  12  varieties  of  form, 
one  of  which  is  so  remote  from  the  primitive,  as  to  ap- 
pear a  perfect  six-sided  prism,  and  several  approach 
that  form.  This  transition  is  very  intelligible,  though 
not  easily  described  without  Igures. 

In  cruciform  crystals  it  occurs  in  metalliferous  veins, 
mingled  with  white  lamellar  carbonate  of  lime  and  sul- 
phuret  of  lead,  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz ;  it  is  also  met 
with  at  Strontian  in  Scotland.  In  solitary  crystals  it  is 
chiefly  found  in  the  cavities  of  siliceous  geodes  at  Ober- 
stein  in  Saxony. 

The  colour  of  this  mineral  is  greyish-white  ;  it  is  trans^ 
lucent  with  a  somewhat  pearly  lustre,  and  is  hard  enough 
to  scratch  glass.  It?  specific  gravity  is  2.35  ;  and  it  is 
composed  of  49  per  cent  of  silex,  iGofalumine,  18  of 
barytes,  and  15  of  water. 

•**r''  -,•-,«!>.,'   , 

ASBESTUS.* 

There  are  several  varieties  of  asbestus.  They  are 
generally  of  a  fibrous  texture,  varying  in  respect  of  flexi- 
bility and  elasticity.  The  fibres  of  asbestus  have  not 
yet  been  seen  in  any  very  determinate  form,  but  Haiiy 
regarded  some  which  fell  under  his  observation  as  rhom- 
boidal  prisms.  Asbestus  is  extremely  difficult  of  fusion 

*  Asbestus.—- Afbeftus  with  rigid  fibres  is  often  found  in  the  city  of 
New- York,  in  detached  mafles ;  miflaken  by  many  for  petrified  wood. 
It  is  alfo  brought  from  Hoboken,  where  it  fills  the  veins  of  ferpentine  ; 
and  from  Statcn-ifland,  where  it  accompanies  fteatitei 


TO   MTNEEALOCJY.  35 

in  the  mass  ;  but  its  fibres  are  easily  reduced  by  the 
blowpipe.  Asbestus  is  derived  from  a  Greek  word,  sig- 
tying  imperishable. 

Amianthus*  occurs  in  very  long  and  extremely  slender 
fibres,  which  are  very  flexible,  and  of  a  whitish,  greenish 
or  reddish  colour.  It  consists  of  59  per  cent,  of  silex,  3 
ofalumine,  9  of  lime,  and  29  of  magnesia. 

It  is  found  in  the  Tarentaise  in  Savoy,  in  the  longest 
and  most  beautiful  fibres  :  that  of  Corsica  is  less  beauti- 
ful, but  is  so  abundant,  that  Doiomieu  used  it  for  packing 
his  minerals  :  near  Bareges  in  the  Pyrennees,  it  occurs 
mingled  with  felspar,  lining  veins  passing  through  gneiss. 
It  occurs  also  at  Inverary  at  Portsay  in  Scotland,  and  in 
the  Isle  of  Unst. 

Amianthus  (signifying  unsoiled)  was  woven  by  the  an- 
cients into  a  kind  of  cloth,  in  which,  being  incombusti- 
ble, they  wrapped  up  the  bodies  of  their  dead,  before 
they  were  placed  on  the  funeral  pile,  that  their  ashes 
might  be  collected  free  from  admixture. 

Mountain  Cork.  The  structure  of  this  variety  differs 
from  the  former ;  the  filaments  are  not  deposited  in  a 
parallel  direction,  but  intermingled  in  various  directions, 
occasioning  cavities,  to  which  may  be  attributed  the 
lightness  of  the  mass.  When  in  thin  flexible  plates,  it  is 
termed  mountain  leather  ;  when  in  thin  and  less  flexible, 
mountain  cork. 

It  occurs  in  the  silver  mines  of  Johan  Georgenstadt  in 
Saxony  ;  at  Bleyberg  in  Carinthia  ;  at  Idria ;  at  Salberg, 
&c.  in  Sweden  ;  between  the  villages  of  Randagont  and 
Vigan  near  Alais  in  France,  it  is  spread  over  the  soil, 
which  consists  of  an  ochreous  earth  mingled  with  quartz 
and  mica,  in  long  white  pieces,  which  have  been  taken 
for  human  bones,  ft  is  also  met  with  at  Kiidrummie  and 
at  Portsoy  in  Scotland. 

Mountain  wood  or  Ligniform  asbestus  has  somewhat 

*  Amianthus  is  found  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States,  in  the  veins 
and  fiffures  of  primitive  rocks.  The  fibres  are  sometimes  ten  or  twelve 
inches  long,  and,  by  their  whiteness,  parallelism  and  flexibility,  refemble 
flax.  The. mountains  along  the  confines  of  New- York  and  Connecticut, 
contain  many  varieties.  At  Staten  Ifland  the  fibres  are  nearly  two  feet 
long,  and  twift  like  hemp. 

The  forms  of  Asbestus,  called  Thrum-stone,  Leather-stone,  Mineral  Cot- 
ton, Salamander's  Wool^  are  all  contained  in  the  primitive  formation  eft" 
New- York,  and  its  vicinity, 


6  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

the  appearance  of  wood  ;  its  structure  is  finely  foliated^ 
the  foliae  being  composed  of  fine  fibres,  which  are  of  a 
brownish  colour.  It  is  opake,  somewhat  elastic,  and 
floats  on  water.  It  is  principally  met  with  in  the  primi- 
tive mountains  of  the  Tyrol,  accompanied  with  amian- 
thus. It  also  occurs  in  various  places  i-n  Scotland. 

Common  asbeslus  is  much  heavier  than  the  preceding 
varieties,  being  nearly  three  times  the  weight  of  water. 
It  occurs  in  masses  consisting  of  fibres  of  a  dull  greenish 
colour,  and  pearly  lustre.  Common  asbestus  is  scarce- 
ly flexible.  It  is  of  more  frequent  occurrence  than 
amianthus :  it  usually  accompanies  serpentine  ;  and 
is  met  with  in  Sweden,  Hungary,  Dauphine,  the  Uralian 
mountains,  at  Portsoy  in  Scotland,  the  Isle  of  Anglesey, 
and  at  the  Lizard  in  Cornwall. 

BASALTIC  HORNBLENDE. 

Basaltic  hornblende  is  usually  met  with  in  opake  sin- 
gle crystals,  imbedded  in  basalt  or  in  lava  ;  the  latter 
sometimes  affect  the  magnetic  needle.  The  usual  colour 
of  this  mineral  is  black  ;  or  brownish  black,  occasioned 
by  a  slight  decomposition.  The  crystals  are  six-sided, 
variously  terminated  by  three  or  four  planes;  but  they  are 
sometimes  dissimilar  at  the  two  extremities  :  their  pri- 
mitive form,  according  to  Haiiy,  is  an  oblique  rhomboi- 
dal  prism  of  124°  34'  and  55*  26' :  the  crystals  have  a 
vitreous  lustre  and  are  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass. 
The  specific  gravity  of  this  mineral  is  3.25  ;  and  it  is 
composed  of  47  per  cent,  of  silex,  26  of  alumine,  8  of 
lime,  2  of  magnesia,  and  15  of  oxide  of  iron. 

Being  far  less  decomposable  than  basalt,  it  is  some- 
times found  in  fine  crystals  in  the  clay  resulting  from  the 
decomposition  of  basaltic  rocks.  It  occurs  in  Saxony, 
Bohemia,  Italy,  Scotland,  &c. 

*% 

HYPERSTHENE. 

The  Hypersthene  is  met  with  either  massive,  or  im- 
bedded in  rocks  in  rhomboidal  prisms  of  about  120°  and 
60°.  Its  colour  is  dark  brown,  or  greenish  black  ;  it  has 
a  lamellar  structure  parallel  with  the  sides  of  the  prism,. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  31 

and  when  fractured  exhibits  reflections  which  are  strongly 
metallic,  and  sometimes  greenish,  sometimes  of  a  cop- 
per red  colour  ;  it  is  opake  and  yields  to  tke  knife.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  3.38 ;  and  it  consists  of  54.25  of  silex, 
2.25  of  alumine,  1.5  of  lime,  14  of  magnesia,  24.5  of 
oxide  of  iron,  arid  1  of  water. 

It  usually  occurs  in  serpentine  ;  and  is  thus  found  in 
Cornwall  associatf?d  with  compact  felspar  ;  it  is  likewise 
found  at  the  Col  de  Cerviere  in  the  Alps,  at  Matray  in, 
the  Tyrol,  at  Basta  in  the  duchy  of  Wolfenbuttel,  and 
in  Hungary,  &c. 

It  is  very  nearly  allied  to  the  following  substance. 

SCHILLER  SPAR. 

.;_,_        !'*j|k^V': 

Schiller  Spar,  like  the  preceding  mineral,  is  always 
found  in  serpentine,  in  which  it  generally  occurs  disse- 
minated. It  is  of  an  olive,  or  bottle-green  colour,  and 
when  held  in  certain  directions,  has  a  shining  lustre, 
nearly  approaching  that  of  some  of  the  metals  :  it  is 
opake  and  yields  to  the  knife.  A  principal  difference 
between  the  schiller  spar  and  hypersthene  is,  that  the  for- 
mer fuses,  though  with  some  difficulty,  into  a  black  ena- 
mel ;  the  latter  is  infusible.  By  one  analysis  it  yields  41 
of  silex,  3  of  aiumine,  1  of  lime,  29  of  magnesia,  14  of 
oxide  of  iron,  and  10  of  water. 

It  is  met  with  in  the  serpentine  of  Cornwall  and  of  An- 
glesey, and  generally  speaking,  wherever  the  hypersthene 
is  found. 

AUGITE.     PYROXENE. 

Augite  usually  occurs  in  translucent  six-sided  crytals, 
terminated  by  dihedral  summits ;  they  are  of  a  Wackish- 
green  colour,  variously  mixed  with  brown  ;  it  is  also  met 
with  in  angular  and  rounded  pieces.  The  form  of  the  pri- 
mitive crystal  is  an  oblique  rhomboidal  prism  of  87°  42" 
and  92°  IS'.  It  scratches  glass  with  ease.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  about  3.3;  and  it  is  composed  of  52  of  silex, 
3.3  of  alumine,  13.2  of  lime,  10  of  magnesia*  14.6  of 
oxide  of  iron,  and  2  of  oxide  of  manganese, 

D 


tXJ  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

Augite  is  met  with  in  the  productions  of  volcanoes ; 
but  whether  it  existed  in  certain  rocks,  previously  to 
their  being  subjected  to  volcanic  action,  or  whether  it 
has  been  formed  in  the  lavas  and  scoriaceous  matters  in 
which  it  is  found,  since  their  ejection,  is  matter  of  un- 
certainty and  dispute.  The  greater  number  of  mine- 
ralogists incline  to  the  former  opinion. 

It  is  found  in  the  volcanic  countries  of  Vesuvius,  Etna. 
Stromboli,  Auvergne,  &c. 

It  is  also  said  to  occur  in  the  basalts  of  Bohemia, 
Hungary,  Transylvania,  Hessia,  and  in  the  iron  mines  of 
Arendahl,  in  Norway.  The  crystals  met  with  in  basalt 
are  larger,  of  a  finer  green,  and  more  brilliant  than  those 
found  in  lavas. 

The  coccolite  and  sahlite  are  regarded  as  varieties  of 
augite 

The  coccolite  is  of  various  shades  of  green,  and  occurs 
in  little  round  translucent  masses,  or  in  grains  of  irregu- 
lar shapes,  which  are  very  slightly  coherent,  but  are  hard 
enough  to  scratch  glass  :  the  structure  is  lamellar,  and 
the  lustre  vitreous.  It  consists  of  50  per  cent,  of  silex, 
1.5  of  alumine,  24  of  lime,  10  of  magnesia,  7  of  oxide 
of  iron,  and  3  of  oxide  of  manganese. 

It  is  said  to  have  been  met  with  only  in  primitive 
countries;  in  certain  veins  near  Arendahl,  in  Norway, 
and  Nericia  in  Sweden  ;  and  in  the  iron  mines  of  Hel- 
lesta  and  Assebo,  in  Sudermania. 

The  sahlite  occurs  in  crystals  of  which  the  prisms  are 
four  or  eight-sided,  and  the  summits  diedral,  and  which 
are  of  a  greenish  grey  colour,  and  scarcely  hard  enough 
to  scratch  glass ;  they  are  translucent  on  the  edges.  The 
sahlite  is  composed  of  53  of  silex,  3  of  alumine,  20  of 
lime;  19  of  magnesia,  and  4  of  oxide  of  iron  and  manga- 
nese. 

It  has  been  found  in  the  silver  mine  of  Sahla  (whence 
its  name)  in  Westmania,  in  Sweden,  and  at  Buoen,  near 
Auen,  in  Norway.  It  has  also  been  met  with  in  the 
mountain  of  Odon-Tchelon,  in  Siberia,  accompanied  by 
mica,  beryl,  and  crystallized  phosphorescent  carbonate 
of  lime. 


TO  MINEHALOGY. 


PYHOPE. 


The  Pyrope  occurs  in  round  or  angular  grains,  of  a 
blood-red  coiour:  which  is  sometimes  clouded  with  yel- 
low ;  it  never  is  found  crystallized.  It  is  transparent, 
has  a  conchoidal  fracture,  and  vitreous  lustre,  and  is  hard 
enough  to  scratch  glass.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  3.8, 
and  it  is  composed  of  40  percent,  of  silex,  28.5  of  alu- 
mine,  3.5  of  lirne,  10  of  magnesia,  and  16.75  of  oxide  of 
iron  and  manganese.  It  is  sometimes,  from  its  general 
colour,  ranked  among  garnets  ;  from  which  it  essential-- 
ly  differs  in  respect  to  form  and  composition 

It  occurs  imbedded  in  serpentine  at  Zeoblitz,  in  Sax- 
ony, and  in  wacke,  in  Bonemia;  but  is  more  common 
in  the  latter  country  in  alluvial  deposites,  accompanied 
by  hyacinths  and  sapphires.  It  is  me-  with  in  the  sand 
of  the  sea-shore  at  Ely,  in  Fifeshire,  and  in  Cumberland 
in  clay-stone. 

Pliny  and  Ovid  mention  a  stone  by  the  name  of  Py- 
rope, which  is  supposed  to  be  nearly  allied  to  this  mine- 
ral. 

POTSTONE.* 

This  substance  is  found  massive  ;  such  is  its  structure, 
that  it  is  sometimes  difficult  to  distinguish  it  from  massive 
talc  ;  its  colour  is  greenish  grey,  passing  into  leek-green, 
with  a  glistening  or  pearly  lustre  ;  it  is  so  soft  as  to  yield 
to  the  nail,  and  is  unctuous  to  the  touch,  but  is  not  easily 
broken  ;  that  of  Chiavenna  consists  of  about  38  parts  of 
silex,  7  of  alumine,  35  of  magnesia,  15  of  iron,  together 
with  very  small  portions  of  lime  and  tfuoric  acid. 

Potstone  is  plentifully  found  at  Chiavenna,  in  the 
Valteline  ;  at  Coma,  in  Lombardy  ;  and,  generally 
speaking,  in  serpentine  countries.  Its  infusibility,  joined 
to  its  softness,  and  the  readiness  with  which  it  is  turned 
by  the  lathe,  have  for  time  immemorial  caused  it  to  be 

*  Potstone  is  brought  from  Connecticut,  in  the  form  of  ink-stands,  weU 
turned  in  .aJathe.  . 


£0          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

formed  into  vessels  in  the  Valais  and  Orisons.  Pliny 
describes  its  having  been  used  in  like  manner  in  his 
time. 

SMARAGDITE. 

The  Smaragdite  is  of  a  brilliant  green  colour,  of  a  silky 
or  pearly  lustre,  and  transparent  at  the  edges,  or  opake  : 
it  is  scarcely  so  hard  as  glass,  and  yields' to  the  knife  ; 
its  specific  gravity  is  3 ;  and  it  is  composed  of  50  of  si- 
lex,  21  of  alumine,  13  of  lime,  3  of  magnesia;  the  re- 
mainder being  oxide  of  chrome  and  oxide  of  iron. 

-  It  is  commonly  found   massive,  or  disseminated  in 
rounded  masses  of  the  Saussurite,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Lake  of  Geneva ;  near  Turin  it  occurs  at  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  Mussinet;  in  Corsica  imbedded  in  felspar. 

ACTINOLITE.* 

This  mineral  is  of  a  pale  or  of  an  emerald-green  co« 
lour,  and  occurs  in  single  crystals,  but  more  often  in 
masses  consisting  of  diverging  hexahedral  prisms,  which, 
in  the  general,  are  not  regularly  terminated  ;  they  have 
a  shining  pearly  lustre,  and  are  translucent  or  transpa- 
rent; it  also  occurs  in  fine  fibres,  having  a  silky  lus- 
tre Actinolite  is  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass;  its  spe- 
cific gravity  is  about  3.3;  and  it  is  composed  of  about 
50  per  cent,  of  silex,  0.75  of  aluminc,  9.75  of  lime, 
19.25  of  magnesia,  11  of  oxide  of  iron,  5  of  oxide  of 
chrome,  and  3  of  water.  The  fibrous  variety  is  dis- 
tinguishable from  Amianthus  by  its  being  extremely 
brittle. 

Actinolite  is  found  only  in  some  nf  the  primitive  rocks, 
and  accompanies  talc  and  mica.  It  is  not  found  in  se- 
condary rocks,  or  in  the  veins  that  traverse  them. 

It  occurs  in  long  six-sided  prisms  imbedded  in  white 
talc,  at  Zillerthal,  in  the  Tyro!,  and  in  Mount  St.  Go- 
thard;  it  is  also  met  with  near  Salzburg,  in  Saxony;  in 
Norway ;  in  Piedmont,  &c. 

*  Beautiful  green  crystals  of  Aetinolto,  from  one  to  two  inches  long, 
are  found  at  New- York,  shooting  through  rocks  of  indurated  fteatitc  an<* 
Ctcllatcd  asbestus.— fierce. 


TO  MINER  ALOOF. 


,^.      COLOPHON  ITE. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  blackish  or  yellowish  brown,  or 
of  an  orange  red  colour ;  and  is,  both  on  the  surface  and 
when  fractured,  of  a  shining  vitreous  lustre  It  is 
usually  ranked  as  a  variety  of  garnet,  but  differs  from 
it  in  yielding  by  analysis  both  magnesia  and  oxide  of 
titanium,  and  in  being  much  lighter:  its  specific  gravity 
is  only  2.5 ;  and  it  is  composed  of  35  per  cent,  of  silex, 
15  of  alumine,  2.9  of  lime,  6.5  of  magnesia,  7.5  of  oxide 
of  iron,  4.75  of  oxide  of  manganese,  and  0.5  of  oxide4o£ 
titanium.  It  is  found  near  Pitigliano,  in  Italy. 

LEUCITE. 

The  Leucite  occurs  in  crystals,  whose  planes  are  24 
equal  and  similar  trapeziums :  by  mechanical  means  it 
may  be  reduced  either  to  the  rhomboidal  dodecahedron, 
or  the  cube.,*  the  latter  of  which,  being  the  most  simple 
of  the  two,  is  considered  to  be  the  form  of  the  primitive 
crystal.  The  Leucite  is  generally  of  a  dirty  white  co- 
lour, and  is  somewhat  translucent;  it  scratches  glass 
with  difficulty ;  its  fracture  is  imperfectly  conchoidal,  and 
has  mostly  a  vitreous  lustre.  It  consists  of  53.75  of  si- 
lex,  24.62  of  alumine,  and  21.35  of  potash.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  2.i>7. 

The  Leucite  is  most  commonly  found  among  the  pro- 
ductions of  volcanoes ;  that  which  occurs  in  lava  is  most' 
ly  opake  and  earthy,  while  that  found  in  basalt  is  viterous* 
The  lavas  of  Vesuvius,  and  basalts  of  Italy  and  Bohe- 
mia abound  with  this  mineral.  The  road  from  Roma 
to  Frascati  is  in  many  places  quite  covered  with  it. 

« 

LITHOMARGA. 

Lithomarga  varies  in  colour  from  white  to  yellow,- 
red  and  brown ;  it  is  dull,  yields  to  the  nail,  is  unctuous 
to  the  touch,  and  adheres  strongly  to  the  tongue ;  its 
fracture  is  mostly  earthy. 

It  is  found  in  masses,  somewhat  round,  in  basalts  and 
ainygdaloids ;  and  13  often  met  with  in  veins  passing; 


42  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

through  porphyry,  gneiss,  serpentine,  Sic.  sometimes 
accompanies  tin,  mercury,  and  topazes.  It  seems 
therefore  chiefly  to  belong  to  primitive  countries ;  it 
occurs  in  France ;  at  Laschitz,  in  Bohemia ;  at  Pln- 
riitz,  near  Zwickau,  in  Saxony,  and  at  Steinmark.  That 
brought  from  the  latter  place  consists  of  about  45  parts 
of  silex,  36  of  alumine,  3  of  iron,  14  of  water,  and  a 
email  portion  of  potash. 

MICA.* 

Mica  mostly  occurs  crystallized  in  six-sided  plates,  or 
in  right  rhomboidal  prisms  of  60°  and  120°,  which  is 
considered  to  be  the  form  of  its  primitive  crystal.  It  is 
easily  divisible,  parallel  with  the  terminating  planes,  into 
thin  laminae,  which  are  flexible  and  very  elastic ;  this 
last  character  serves  at  once  to  distinguish  mica  from 
talc,  which  i*»  not  elastic. 

This  mineral  is  of  various  shades  of  white,  yellow. 
green  and  brown ; — It  yields  readily  to  the  knife,  but  the 
edges  of  the  laminae  will  scratch  glass.  The  mica  of 
different  countries  does  not  perfectly  agree  in  the  re- 
spective proportions  of  its  ingredients ;  that  of  Muscovy 
(called  Muscovy  Glass)  consists  of  about  48  silex,  34 
alumine,  9  Potash,  4  oxide  of  iron,  and  nearly  1  ol 
oxide  of  manganese.  Its  sp.  gr.  is  about  2.7. 

Mica  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  mineral  substances  : 
it  is  never  found  in  beds,  or  in  considerable  isolated 
masses,  but  it  eqters  into  the  composition  of  very  many 
rocks,  especially  the  oldest  primitive,  as  granite,  gneiss, 
micaceous  schistus,  &c  and  is  often  found  filling  up 
their  fissures,  or  crystallized  in  the  cavities  of  the  veins 
which  traverse  them.  Mica  is  therefore  of  the  most  an- 
cient formation  ;  but  is  also  met  with  in  the  newest  crys- 
talline rocks.  It  also  occurs  in  sandstones,  in  schists,  and 

*  Mica  is  found  in  Maine,  in  plates  of  a  foot  fquare  or  even  more.    It 
occurs  in  New- York,  in  fix-ftded  plates,  evidently  of  a  cryftallized  figure, 
It.isufually  an  ingredient  in  granite  and  gneiss.     Sometimes,  however,  it 
occurs  of  the  like  nexagonal  form  in  calcareous  carbonates.  It  is  fometimes 
licarly  as  tranfparent  as  the  beft  glafs,  and  affumes  all  the  dusky  fhades  to 
%;deep  fmoke-colour,  without  lofmg  its  tranfparency. 
"l  have  fine  rofe-coloured  fpecimens  from  Northampton,— -ffVerfs. /-an .£ 
green  oees  from  Brunfwick,  Maine.— (Gkavtfaul-J 


TO  MINERALOGY,  40 

in  the  slaty  sandstone  that  accompanies  the  independent 
coal  formation.  It  is  sometimes  abundant  in  sands,  and 
in  alluvial  deposites  very  distant  from  primitive  moun- 
tains ;  and  is  said  to  be  very  plentiful  in  certain  volcanic 
products. 

According  to  HaQy,  Muscovy  Glass,  which  occurs  in 
plates  of  a  yard  or  more  in  diameter,  in  veins  of  granite 
and  of  macaceous  schistus,  in  some  parts  of  Russia,  may 
be  divided  into  plates  no  thicker  than  yowo^th  part  of 
an  inch.  It  is  used  for  inclosing  objects  for  the  solar 
microscope,  and  instead  of  glass  in  the  Russian  ships 
of  war,  as  less  liable  to  be  broken  by  the  concussion  of 
the  air,  during  the  discharge  of  heavy  artillery:  an  infe- 
rior kind,  which  is  found  in  Pennsylvania3  is  used  there 
instead  of  window  glass. 

MESOTYPE. 

The  Mesotype  is  generally  of  a  white,  or  greyish' 
colour,  and  is  transparent,  or  translucent ;  it  yields  easily 
to  the  knife,  and  becomes  electrical  by  heat.  It  occurs 
crystallized  in  radiated  acicular  prisms ;  in  filaments  ,- 
or  in  globular  concretions,  composed  of  stellated  fibres. 
It  is  one  of  those  substances  which  are  commonly  called 
Zeolites.  It  assumes  about  10  varieties  in  the  form  of 
the  crystal,  the  primitive  of  which  is  a  right  prism  with 
square  bases.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2;  and  it  consists  of 
49  of  silex,  27  of  alumine,  17  of  soda,  and  9.5  of  wa- 
ter, according  (o  Simpson  ;  but  according  to  Vauque- 
lin,  50.24  of  silex,  29.3  of  alumine,  9.46  of  lime,  and 
10  of  water*- 

Mesotype  is- found  in  Iceland  ;  Scotland;  the  Ferroe- 
islands ;  in  Hessia ;  the  Isle  of  Bourbon,  &c. 

This  mineral  is  generally  considered  to  be  of  doubtful 
origin.  It  is  found  in  lavas,  but  principally,  if  not  only, 
ia  those  that  are  ancient ;  and,  it  is  said  by  some,  only 
in  such  as  have  been  exposed  to  the  action  of  water.  It 
is  also  met  with  in  basalts ;  as  in  those  of  the  Giant's 
Causeway  in  .  Ireland ;  and  in  those  of  the  Cyclop 
Islands,  and  of  the  Vicentine  mountains ;  the  basalt  of 
the  two  latter  is  surrounded  and  covered  by  the  remains 
of  sea  animals.  The  mesotype  also  occurs  in  basalt,, 


44.  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

amygdaloid,  and  other  trap  rocks  of  England  and  Scot- 
land, and  is  particularly  abundant  and  beautiful  at  Ta- 
lesker,  in  the  Isle  of  Sky. 

The  Natrolite  is  composed  of  the  same  elementary 
substances,  and  very  nearly  in  the  same  proportions,  and 
is  therefore  considered  to  be  merely  a  variety  of  the 
mesotype.  It  is  always  of  a  fibrous  and  radiated  struc- 
ture $  and  is  of  a  whitish,  yellowish,  or  of  a  brown  co- 
lour. In  its  cavities  are  found  crystals  presenting  the 
form  of  common  mesotype,  viz.  a  rectangular  prism, 
with  tetrahedral  pyramids. 

RUBELLiTE.^ 

The  Rubellite  is  of  a  red  or  violet  colour,  and  occurs 
crystallized,  but  the  crystals  are  rarely  distinct.  It  is 
found  in  Moravia ;  in  Ceylon ;  it  occurs  in  a  granite 
mountain  in  the  Uralian  chain  in  Siberia,  in  a  vein  com- 
posed of  felspar,  quartz,  mica,  and  common  schorl ; 
\vhence  this  mineral  has  been  also  called  Siberite.  It 
consists  of  42  per  cent,  of  silex,  40  of  alumine,  10 
of  soda,  and  7  of  oxide  of  manganese  and  iron.  It  is 
commonly  considered  to  be  a  variety  of  tourmaline, 
from  which  it  differs,  in  not  having  either  lime  or  mag- 
nesia among  its  constituent  elements,  and  in  being  in- 
fusible. This  mineral  is  commonly  known  by  the  name 
of  Reci  Schorl, 

TUMICK.f 

Pumice  is  sometimes  found  massive  ;  more  often  it  is 
extremely  porous,  of  a  fibrous  structure,  and  harsh  to 
the  touch ;  its  colour  is  grey,  tinged  with  brown  or 
yellow,  and  it  has  a  shining  pearly  lustre ;.  it  is  translu- 
cent in  the  edges,  very  light,  and  sometimes  so  light  as 
to  swim  on  water.  It  is  composed  of  77.5  parts  of  silex, 

?  The  memoir  of  Profeflor  Hauy  already  mentioned,  corrects,  from, 
the  examination  of  the  American  Tourmalines,  feveral  errors  into  which 
Mineralogifts  had  fallen,  by  feparating  Indicolite  and  Siberite  from  Tour- 
maline, of  ivhich  they  are  but  varieties. 

f  Pumict-itone  floats  down  the  Miffouri.  It  is  formed  by  the  fire  of 
the  burning  plains  through  which  that  river  runs.  The  pieces  I  poffe& 
are  of  a  reddifh  brown,  or  brick  colour,  and  float  in  water. 


TO  MINEHALOCr.  45 

17.5  of  alumine,  1.75  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  3  soda  and 
potasb. 

Pumice  is  generally  believed  to  be  a  volcanic  product ; 
it  sometimes  accompanies  obsidian  ;  it  is  said  that  the 
vitreous  obsidian  of  Hungary,  may,  by  heat,  be  changed 
into  a  substance  perfectly  resembling  pumice. 

It  is  but  sparingly  found  near  Vesuvius,  not  at  all  near 
Etna.  It  is  very  abundant  in  the  Lipari  islands,  which 
furnish  the  pumice  of  commerce.  It  is  met  with  in 
Auvergne  in  France,  in  Iceland,  Tenerifie,  &c. 

ICIITHYOPHTUALM1TE  J    Or    FISH-EYE-STONE. 

At  first  s'ght  this  mineral  resembles  the  variety  of  fel- 
spar called  adularia,  but  is  much  softer,  being  easily  cut 
by  the  knife  ;  it  does  not  scratch  glass.  Its  general  co- 
lour is  white,  which  is  sometimes  tinged  with  red  or 
green;  it  has  a  shining  pearly  lustre.  The  form  of  its 
primitive  crystal  is  a  rectangular  parallelepiped,  in  which 
it  sometimes  occurs  ;  as  well  as  nearly  in  the  proportions 
of  the  cube,  and  in  flat  tables.  Its  specific  gravity  is 
2.46;  and  it  is  composed  of  51  parts  of  silex,  28  of 
lime,  4  of  potash,  and  7  of  water. 

it  is  met  with  in  the  iron  mine  of  Otoe  in  Sweden ; 
its  gangue  is  a  lamellar  carbonate  of  lime,  of  a  red  vio- 
let colour ;  it  is  accompanied  by  hornblende  and  some 
ores  of  iron.  The  massive  occurs  at  Dunvegan  in  the 
We  of  Sky. 

TALC. 

Talc  is  for  the  most  part  either  white,  apple-green, 
or  yellowish.  It  occurs  in  hexagonal  laminae,  and  mas- 
sive. It  always  consists  of  plates  or  lamina,  which  are 
easily  separated  from  each  other,  and  are  flexible,  but 
not  elastic.  This  last  character  serves  to  distinguish  this 
mineral  from  mica,  which  is  very  elastic.  Talc  is  of  a 
shining  lustre,  is  very  unctuous  to  the  touch  ;  yields 
easily  to  the  nail ;  it  leaves  a  white,  and  somewhat 
pearly  streak,  when  rubbed  on  paper*  Its  specific  gra- 
vity is  2.77  ;  and  it  consists  of  61  of  silex,  30.5  of  mag- 
nesia, 2.75  of  potasb,  2.5  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  0.5  of 
water, 


46  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

Crystallized  talc,  which  is  mostly  white,  or  of  a  light 
green  colour,  is  met  with  in  small  quantities  in  serpen- 
tine rocks,  with  actinolile,  carbonated  lime,  steatite, 
compact  talc,  &zc.  It  is  ?ound  in  the  mountains  of  Sals- 
burg  and  the  Tyrol,  and  is  taken  to  *  enice  ;  whence  it 
has  obtained  the  name  of  J^enelian  Talc.  It  occurs 
also  at  Brian§ori ;  at  Zreblitz  in  Saxony  ;  in  Silecia,  &c. 

Massive  talc  is  less  flexible  and  translucent  than  the 
crystallized  ;  it  is  principally  of  an  apple-green  colour, 
and  is  sometimes  of  a  radiated  structure.  It  is  met  with 
in  considerable  beds  in  mountains  of  micaceous  schistus, 
gneiss,  and  serpentine.  At  Grenier  in  the  Tyrol,  it  oc- 
curs in  a  species  of  serpentine,  accompanied  by  actino- 
lite,  corbonate  of  lime,  sulphuret  of  iron,  green  mica, 
&c.  At  Zillerthal,  in  the  Tyrol,  it  is  met  with  enclo- 
sing long  prisms  of  actinolite,  and  of  tourmaline.  It 
occurs  also  in  Austria,  Stiria.  &c 

Talc  is  found  in  Glen  Tilt,  in  Perthshire,  in  a  granu- 
lar limestone. 

Indurated  Talc,  of  a  greenish-grey  colour,  and  massive,, 
is  met  with  at  the  Lizard,  in  Cornwall,  which  is  a  ser- 
pentine country. 

GREEN    KAHTH. 

This  mineral  is  met  with  in  sm&H  masses,  or  lining 
the  cavities  of  amygdaloid  ;  and  is  of  a  greyish  or  bluish- 
green  colour,  passing  into  blackish  green  ;  it  is  dull,  and 
yields  to  the  nail ;  its  fracture  is  generally  earthy.  It  is 
found  wherever  amygdaloid  occurs  ;  as  in  Saxony,  Bo- 
hemia, Monte  Boldo,  near  Verona,  the  hill  of  Kinnoul 
near  Perth  in  Scotland,  &c.  That  of  Verona  consists  of 
53  of  silex,  2  of  magnesia,  10  of  potash,  28  of  oxide  of 
iron,  and  6  of  water.  When  of  a  good  colour  it  is 
made  some  use  of  by  painters. 

A  substance  of  a  green  colour  may  be  observed  in 
little  round  masses  in  certain  sand  stones,  as  in  that  of 
the  coast  near  Folkstone,  which  is,  by  some,  considered 
to  be  a  variety  of  green  earth. 


TO   MINKRALOG7.  4-7 

SPODUMENE.       TR1PHANE. 

This  rare  mineral  is  of  a  greenish  white  colour,  of  a 
shining  pearly  lustre,  and  translucent  It  considerably 
resembles  adularia,  but  differs  essentially  from  it  in  re- 
spect of  mechanical  cleavage.  Spodumene  is  divisable 
into  prisms  with  rhombic  bases,  having  alternate  angles  of 
80°  and  100°.  It  is  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass,  and  to 
give  sparks  by  the  steel  :  its  specific  gravity  is  3.192, 
and  it  is  composed  of  64.4  of  uilex,  24.4  of  aluinine,  3 
of  lime,  5  of  potash,  and  V2.2  of  oxide  of  iron. 

It  has  only  been  found  in  the  iron  mine  of  Utoe,  in 
Sweden,  in  a  gangue  of  red  felspar,  fat  quartz,  and  black 
mica. 

FELSPAR.* 

Felspath,    in  German,    signifies    rock-spar :    fehlspath, 
field-spar. 

The  general  form  of  the  crystals  of  felspar  is  an  ob- 
lique prism,  having  very  unequal  planes  ;  Haiiy  notices 
21  varieties :  the  structure  is  lamellar,  and  felspar  may 
be  cleaved  into  an  oblique  angled  parallelopiped,  which 
therefore  is  the  primitive  form.  The  alliance  of  the 
crystals  with  each  other  is  not  easily  traced,  on  account 
of  the  great  difference  frequently  existing  in  the  size, 
and  consequently  in  the  form,  of  its  secondary  planes, 
as  well  as  on  account  of  its  being  often  in  hemitrope 
or  uiacled  crystals ;  it  is  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass. 
but  not  so  hard  as  quartz,  and  yields  to  the  knife  with 
some  difficulty  ;  it  becomes  phosphorescent  by  friction. 
There  are  several  varieties  of  felspar. 

Mularia,  so  called  from  its  having  been  first  met 
with  on  one  of  the  heights  of  St.  Golhard,  called  Adula, 

*  The  white  FelJfpar  is  the  common  ingredient  in  our  granite-rocks, 
giving  them  their  -white  colour.  In  many  cafes,  it  is  crumbling  to  pi  eces, 
and  decompofing  the  rocks  to  which  ir  belongs. 

Red  or  flefti-coloured  Feldfpar  is  alfo  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the  Fre' 
donran  granites  and  fyenites,  imparting  to  them  their  red  complc  x  ion . 


16  ELEMENRARY    INTRODUCTION 

Is  found  both  massive,  and  crystallized  ;  it  is  of  a  green- 
ish white  colour,  but  almost  limpid,  and  has  a  pearly 
lustre ;  its  fracture  is  imperfectly  conchoidal.  Its  spe- 
cific gravity  is  2.54 ;  and  it  consists  of  64  per  cent,  of 
silex,  20  of  alumine,  2  of  lime,  and  14  of  potash  In 
the  veins  of  mount  St.  Gothard  it  occurs  in  large  and 
well  defined  crystals  in  gneiss  and  micaceous  schistus ; 
and  in  the  mountains  near  Mont  Blanc,  in  crystals  much 
smaller  and  less  transparent. 

The  Moon  stone,  so  called  from  its  pale  white  hue, 
is  considered  to  be  a  kind  of  adularia;  and  is  brought 
from  the  East,  particularly  from  Arabia  and  Persia. 

Common  felspar  occurs  of  a  whitish,  yellowish,  red- 
dish or  red  colour,  and  either  granular,  massive,  disse- 
minated or  crystallized  ;  it  is  sometimes  opake,  some- 
times translucent ;  its  specific  gravity  is  2.54,  and  it  is 
composed  of  62.83  parts  of  silex,  17,02  of  alumine,  3 
of  lime,  13  of  potash,  and  1  of  oxide  of  iron. 

Common  felspar  is  the  most  generally  diffused,  both 
as  to  its  local  and  geological  situation,  of  any  other  mi- 
neral, except  quartz  and  oxide  of  iron.  It  is  an  essen- 
tial constituent  of  granite  and  gneiss,  and  frequently  oc- 
curs in  micaceous  and  argillaceous  schistus  ;  it  forms  a 
large  proportion  of  sieniie,  and  is  contained  in  almost 
all  porphyries,  in  some  very  abundantly :  it  is  occasion- 
ally, though  rarely,  found  in  primitive  limestone  :  it 
abounds  in  primitive  and  secondary  traps,  and  in  the 
greater  part  of  real  lavas. 

A  variety  of  a  beautiful  apple  green  colour  has  been 
met  with  only  in  a  hill  at  the  eastern  base  of  the  Uralian 
mountains,  near  the  fortress  of  Troitzk. 

Felspar  is  occasionally  met  with,  which  is  more  com- 
pact than  the  common,  but  agreeing  with  it  in  most  re- 
spects, except  that  its  structure  is  less  decidedly  lamel- 
lar, .and  that  its  specific  gravity  is  greater;  being  2.63. 

Lamellar  Felspar.  Petuntze.  Under  these  names 
has  been  described  felspar  in  the  first  stage  of  decom- 
position, but  preserving  its  lamellar  character.  Its  or- 
dinary colour  is  dirty  white,  and  it  sometimes  occurs  in 
Targe  masses,  enclosing  small  portions  of  quartz.  It  is 
chiefly  employed  in  giving  the  enamel  to  porcelain — 
The  manufactories  of  France  are  chiefly  supplied  from 


TO  MINERALOGV.  49 

the  neighbourhood  of  Limoges.  A  slightly  saline  taste 
belongs  to  it,  which  also  is  characteristic  of  the  petuntze 
of  China.  The  perfectly  disintegrated  felspar,  being 
usually  considered  as  one  of  the  clays,  is  noticed  with 
them  under  the  name  of  Kaolin. 

Glassy  Felspar,  Sanidin.  This  mineral  is  chiefly 
found  in  crystals,  sometimes  longitudinally  striated  5  it 
occurs  imbedded  in  porphyry -slate,  in  Bohemia,  at  Dra- 
chenfels  near  Born  on  the  Rhine,  at  Solfatara  in  Italy, 
and  in  Pitchstone  in  the  Isle  of  Arran.  It  obtained  its 
name  of  Glassy,  from  its  vitreous  lustre,  which  some- 
times approaches  to  pearly  :  it  is  semi-transparent  and 
translucent,  and  of  a  greyish  or  yellowish  white  colour. 
Its  specific  gravity  is  2.57  ;  and  it  is  composed  of  68 
parts  of  silex,  15  of  alumine,  14.5  of  potash,  and  0.5  of 
oxide  of  iron. 

Labrador  Felspar.  The  beautiful  and  varied  tints  of 
this  mineral,  when  viewed  in  particular  directions,  are 
well  known  ;  it  has  the  usual  characters  of  felspar,  ex-» 
cept  that  its  general  colour  is  grey,  or  dark  ash  grey  j 
and  that,  by  the  analyses  of  this  mineral,  which  are 
not  greatly  relied  on,  it  appears  that  potash  does  not  en- 
ter into  its  composition.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.6. 

It  was  first  discovered  by  the  Moravian  missionaries 
in  the  island  of  St.  Paul,  on  the  coast  of  Labrador ;  it 
has  since  been  found  in  Ingermannland  in  Norway ;  near 
the  lake  Baikal  in  Siberia ;  in  granite  near  St.  Peters- 
burg ;  also  at  Memelsgrund  in  Bohemia,  and  near  Halle 
in  Saxony.  It  is  sometimes  accompanied  by  mica, 
schorl,  and  iron  pyrites. 

SCALY  TALC.       NACR1TE. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  minute  aggregated  scales,  of 
a  silvery  white  or  greenish  colour,  and  of  a  glimmering 
pearly  lustre  ;    they  are  friable,  very  unctuous* to  the 
touch,  light,  and  adhere  to  the  fingers.     Scaly  talc  *• 
composed  of  50  per  cent  of  silex,  of  26  alumine,  I/ 
lime,  17.5  of  potash,  5  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  a 
portion  of  muriatic  acid.     Its  colour  distinguish? 
ficiently  from  chlorite  j    it  differs  from  the  ' 

E 


5B          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

principally  in  respect  of  colour,  and  in  being  extremely 
unctuous. 

It  is  chiefly  met  with  in  small  masses  in  the  cavities 
of  primitive  rocks,  and  in  the  interstices  of  crystallized 
quartz.  It  occurs  at  Sylva  in  Piedmont,  near  Frey- 
berg  in  Saxony,  and  near  Meronitz  in  Bohemia. 

PEARLSTONE. 

Pearlstone  occurs  in  large  coarse  angular  concretions^ 
including  smaller  round  concretions,  composed  of  very 
thin  lamella;.  The  surface  is  smooth  and  shining,  with 
a  lustre  remarkably  resembling  that  of  pearl.  The  co- 
lour of  the  mass  is  grey,  greyish  black,  black,  reddish  or 
blackish.  It  is  fragile,  translucent  on  the  edges,  and 
scarcely  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass.  Its  specific  gravity 
is  2.34 ;  that  of  Hungary  is  composed  ofsilex  75.25,  alu- 
mine  12,  lime  4.5,  potash  4.50,  oxide  of  iron  1.6,  and 
water  4.5.  It  almost  always  gives  out  an  argillaceous 
smell  when  breathed  on.  Some  of  the  varieties  are  said 
te  bear  a  striking  resemblance  to  pumice. 

At  Tokay  in  Hungary,  it  is  found  enclosing  round 
masses  of  black  vitreous  obsidian,  and  is  intermixed 
with  the  debris  of  granite,  gneiss,  and  porphyry,  and 
alternating  in  beds  with  the  latter.  A  variety  met  with 
at  Cenapecuaro  in  Mexico,  is  hard  enough  to  scratch 
glass ;  another  found  at  Cape  de  Gat  in  Spain,  of  a 
greenish  or  bluish  colour,  does  not  give  out  the  argilla- 
ceous odour.  Pearlstone  is  also  met  with  at  Sandy 
Brae,  in  the  island  of  Egg,  one  of  the  Hebrides. 

AGALMATOLITE. 

This  mineral  obtained  the  French  and  German  names 
of  Pierre  de  Lard  and  Bildstein,  from  the  resemblance 
of  some  of  its  varieties  to  Lard  •.  and  Brongniart  has 
given  it  that  of  steatite  pagodite,  from  its  being  always 
brought  from  China  in  the  form  of  little  grotesque 
figures  and  chimney  ornaments  ;  but  all  the  analyses  of 
it,  distinguish  it  sufficiently  from  steatite,  which  is  al- 
ways in  part  constituted  of  magnesia.  The  agalmatolite 
is  also  found  at  Nagyag  in  Transylvania.  It  consists  of 

' 


TO  MINERALOGY.  51 

£»6  of  silcx,  29  of  alumine,  2  of  lime,  7  of  potash,  1  of 
oxide  of  iron,  and  5  of  water.  In  the  varieties  of  the 
Chinese,  analyzed  by  Klaproth,  no  indication  of  potash 
was  found,  and  one  of  them  was  without  lime. 

LEPIDOLITE. 

The  Lepidolite  is  of  a  pearl  grey,  rose  red,  or  of  a 
lilac  red,  or  purple  colour,  whence  it  has  also  been  cal- 
led the  Lilalite.  It  consists  of  an  assemblage  of  small 
flexible  scales,  which  are  translucent  :  the  mass  has  a 
pearly  or  silvery  lustre,  yields  to  the  nail,  and  is  some- 
what unctuous  to  the  touch.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.85 : 
that  of  Moravia  consists  of  54  per  cent,  of  silex,  20  of 
alurnine,  4  of  fluate  of  lime,  18  of  potash,  4  of  oxide  of 
manganese,  and  1  of  iron. 

It  was  first  discovered  on  the  mountain  Gradisko,  near 
Rozena,  in  Moravia,  of  a  pale  rose  colour  and  pearly 
lustre  ;  it  occurred  also  in  a  thin  bed  in  gneiss,  accom- 
panied by  quartz,  mica,  schorl,  &c.  It  has  since  been 
met  with  in  Sweden  in  a  quartzose  rock ;  in  France, 
near  Limoges,  in  a  vein  of  quartz,  passing  through  gra- 
nite, enclosing  large  beryls  ;  at  Campoin,  in  the  island 
of  Elba,  of  a  rose  colour,  in  a  rock  composed  of  quartz 
and  felspar. 

OBSIDIAN". 

Common  obsidian  is  of  a  greenish  or  brownish  black, 
or  of  a  smoke  brown  colour,  with  a  shining  vitreous  lus- 
tre ;  its  fracture  is  conch oidal ;  some  varieties  are  trans- 
lucent, others  nearly  opake,  and  it  is  hard  enough  to 
scratch  glass  :  its  specific  gravity  is  about  2.35.  That 
of  Hecla  yields  by  analysis  78  of  silex,  10  of  alumine,  2 
of  lime,  6  of  potash,  1  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  1  of  manga- 
nese. Potash  and  lime  do  not  enter  into  the  composi- 
tion of  all  the  varieties.  It  occasionally  very  much  re- 
sembles common  glass. 

The  origin  of  obsidian  has  been  very  warmly  cow- 
tested  ;  it  is  most  common  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Volcanoes,  and  has  been  considered  as  a  vitrified  lava ; 
whence  it  has  obtained  the  familiar  name  of  Volcanic 


£2  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

glass.    It  occurs  in  beds,  masses,  and  in  small  isolated 
pieces. 

Fragments  of  blackish  obsidian  are  met  with,  not 
only  at  the  foot  of  Hecla,  but  in  almost  every  part  of 
Iceland  :  It  is  also  found  in  the  Lipai  i  islands ;  some 
varieties  enclose  felspar.  In  Peru  it  is  met  with  in  paral- 
lel beds  of  a  greenish  black,  and  greyish  colour  ;  the 
latter  enclosing  opake,  spherical  masses,  of  a  slate  co- 
lour, composed  of  diverging  fibres.  In  New  Spain, 
some  obsidians,  which  have  been  long  exposed  to  the 
air,  are  covered  by  a  white  opake  enamel. 

Obsidian,  of  a  greenish  black  colour,  constitutes  the 
greater  part  of  the  mountain  della  Castagna,  in  the 
island  of  Lipari ;  it  encloses  small  crystals  of  felspar ; 
and  near  the  peak  of  Tenerifie  obsidian  appears  in  the 
form  of  considerable  currents,  (like  lava)  presenting 
some  fibrous  appearances,  denoting  its  passage  into  Pu- 
mice 

A  variety  of  a  silky  and  chatoyant  lustre  is  also  found 
in  New  Spain.  ^ 

Obsidian  in  the  form  of  little  grains  of  the  size  of 
peas,  of  a  pearly  white,  and  consisting  of  very  thin  con- 
centric layers  ;  together  with  fragments  of  these  ;  also 
vitreous  globes  of  the  size  of  a  nut,  and  others  like 
enamel,  traversed  by  red  and  black  veins ;  forming 
altogether  a  species  of  vitreous  sand,  is  found  at  Mari- 
kan  in  the  Gulph  of  Kamschatka  ;  and  is  thence  termed 
the  Marekanite. 

In  the  island  of  Ponce,  obsidian  is  met  with,  enclosing 
yellow  mica,  and  white  vitreous  grains,  which  appear  to 
be  semi-vitrified  felspar. 

Obsidian  is  in  some  places  traversed  by  veins  of  stony 
or  earthy  matter  of  various  kinds";  thin  beds  of  which 
also  occur  between  beds  of  obsidian.  In  the  Madona 
mountain,  in  the  island  of  Ponce,  the  beds  are  nearly 
vertical.  In  Hungary,  obsidian  occurs,  intermingled 
with  the  debris  of  decomposed  granite,  gneiss  and  por- 
phyry j  and  even  alternates  with  beds  of  the  latter. 
These  circumstannes  have  induced  some  mineralogists 
to  doubt  the  igneous  origin  of  obsidian  ;  but  their 

Strongest  arguments   are the  violent  intumescence 

which  it  undergoes  when  subjected  to    heat,  which 


TO  MINEBALOGY.  53 

causes  it  to  melt  into  a  glass,  and  the  quantity  of  aqueous 
vapour  disengaged  during  the  process.  Humboldt  sus- 
pects this  to  be  one  of  the  causes  of  the  violent  earth- 
quakes so  often  felt  in  the  Cordilleras  of  the  Andes. 

But  it  is  agreed  universally,  that  whenever  obsidian  is 
found,  there  exist  indications  of  volcanic  agency  in  the 
neighbouring  country. 

In  Europe,  obsidian  has  been  fashioned  into  reflectors 
for  telescopes  ;  in  Mexico  and  Peru,  it  was  made  into 
looking  glasses  and  knives. 

HAUYNE.       LATIAL1TE. 

The  Haliyne  is  usually  found  massive,  but,  in  one 
instance,  has  been  observed  in  extremely  brilliant  crys- 
tals, but  so  minute,  and  crossing  each  other«in  so  many 
directions,  that  it  was  impossible  to  discover  their  form. 
When  this  mineral  is  opake,  it  is  of  an  indigo  blue  co- 
lour ;  when  translucent,  bluish  green.  It  is  somewhat 
harder  than  quartz,  is  very  brittle,  and  its  fracture  is  un- 
even, and  considerably  splendent.  Its  specific  gravity  is 
about  3.2;  and  it  consists  of  30  percent,  of  silex,  15  of 
alumine,  20.5  of  sulphate  of  lime,  5  of  lime,  11  of  pot- 
ash, 1  of  oxide  of  iron,  17.5  water,  sulphuretted  hydro- 
gen and  loss.  In  some  of  its  external  characters  and  in 
its  chemical  composition,  it  bears  considerable  analogy 
to  Lapis  Lazuli. 

It  occurs  massive  in  Italy,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Nemi,  Albano,  and  Frascati,  accompanied  by  mica,  and 
green  pyroxene  ;  and  hear  Vesuvius,  its  gangue  consists 
of  the  fragments  of  rocks  ejected  by  volcanic  eruptions, 
and  it  is  accompanied  by  idocrase,  augite,  mica,  and 
roeionite. 

Haiiy  seems  to  be  of  opinion  that  the  mineral,  here- 
tofore termed  Blue  Spindle,  which  occurs  in  the  form  of 
a  rhomboidal  dodecahedron,  in  the  productions  of  volca- 
noes atAndernach,  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  ought  to 
fee  considered  as  a  variety  of  this  mineral;  as  well  as  the 
sapphirin,  which  occurs  in  the  granular  form  on  the  banks 
of  the  lake  of  Lach,  in  a  rock  principally  composed  o£ 
grainy  and  of  small  crystals,  of  vitreous  felspar, 

K-Ju 


54  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 


ANALCIME.       CUBIC  ZEOLITE. 

The  Analcime  is  usually  met  with  in  round  or  radiated 
masses,  or  in  cubic  crystals,  either  perfect,  or  having 
each  of  the  solid  angles  replaced  by  three  planes ;  or  iu 
the  trapezoidal  dodecahedron,  which  is  a  variety  of  the 
cube ;  the  lustre  is  shining,  and  between  pearly  and 
vitreous.  The  colour  of  the  analcime  is  white,  yel- 
lowish, reddish,  or  deep  red  ;  it  is  hard  enough  to 
scratch  glass,  and  is  mostly  transparent  or  translucent, 
occasionally  opake ;  it  becomes  electric  by  rubbing. 
Its  specific  gravity  is  below  &.  It  consists  of  58  of  silex, 
18  of  alumine,  2  of  lime,  10  of  soda,  and  8.5  of  water. 

The  analcime  is  sometimes  confounded  with  stilbite, 
l}ut  amongst  their  distinctive  characters,  the  superior 
pearly  lustre  of  the  stilbite,  is  that  by  which  they  are 
mostly  readily  distinguished. 

According  to  Brongniart,  this  mineral  has  been  met 
with  only  among  the  products  of  volcanoes  ;  as  in  the 
lavas  of  Etna :  according  to  Jameson,  the  cubic  zeolite 
is  met  with  lining  the  cavities  of  amygdaloid,  basalt,  &c. : 
•and  occurs  in  Staffa,  and  near  Talysker,  in  the  island  of 
Sky  :  it  is  found  also  in  the  Hartz,  Bohemia,  &c.  ;  in 
Iceland  and  the  Ferroe  islands.  At  Oberstein,  it  occurs 
in  the  cavities  of  geodes. 

.  A  variety  from  somma,  called  the  Sarcolite,  from  its 
being  of  a  flesh  red  colour,  is  met  with  in  cubes,  having 
each  solid  angle  replaced  by  planes. 

LAVA* 

Lava  is  externally  yellowish  or  greenish  grey,  greyish 
black,  or  greenish  black,  and  is  internally  spotted  red- 
dish, yellowish  brown,  or  grey ;  sometimes,  when  sul- 
phureous vapours  have  acted  much  upon  it,  it  is  yel- 
lowish or  sulphur  yellow.  It  is  vesicular  and  knotty ;  the 
>  vesicles  are  empty  ;  sometimes  it  is  porous.  Its  fracture 
is  imperfectly  conchoidal ;  internally  its  lustre  is  glisten- 
ing or  shining.  It  is  opake,  translucent  on  the  edges, 
brittle,  mostly  attracts  strongly  the  magnetic  needle,  and. 
it  is  somewhat  remarkable,  is  easily  fused  into  a  black 


TO  MINERALOGY.  5£ 

glass.  The  compact  lava  of  Calabria  yields,  by  analysis, 
about  51  of  silex,  19  of  alumine,  10  of  lime,  4  of  soda, 
14  of  iron,  and  1  of  water 

Lava  usually  encloses  crystals  of  augite,  hornblende, 
felspar,  and  leucite  ;  which  sometimes  have  no  appear- 
ance of  being  altered  by  heat. 

The  above  description,  generally  speaking,  belongs 
to  those  substances,  which,  by  common  consent,  are  true 
lavas  ;  the  products  of  Etna,  Vesuvius,  Hecla,  and  other 
Volcanoes.  But  there  are  many  substances,  considered 
by  some  mineralogists  as  lavas,  which,  by  others  are  not 
allowed  to  be  of  volcanic  origin.  Karsten  enumerates 
nine  species  of  lava ;  and  Haiiy  six,  which  are  again 
subdivided  ;  amongst  them  are  pearlstone  and  obsidian. 

Werner  notices  only  two,  one  of  which  he  calls  Slag 
Lava,  the  other  Foam  Lava*  The  slag  lava  is  above 
described ;  foam  lava  is  of  a  greenish  grey  colour,  ap- 
proaching to  greenish  black  ;  it  is  light,  brittle,  and  often 
crumbling ;  and  has  often  been  confounded  with  pumice. 

PITCH  STONE. 

The  colours  of  this  mineral,  which  obtained  the  name 
of  Pitchstone,  from  the  resemblance  which  some  of  its 
varieties  bear  to  pitch,  are  very  various  ;  it  is  met  with 
in  shades  of  grey,  blue,  green,  yellow,  red,  brown,  and 
black ;  but  its  colours  are  not  lively  :  it  has  a  glistening 
resino-vitreous  lustre.  It  occurs  generally  in  distinct 
masses  or  considerable  beds,  and  has  an  imperfect  cori- 
choidal  fracture,  which  in  some  varieties  is  the  chief 
characteristic  distinction  between  pitchstone  and  obsi- 
dian ;  and  it  is  not  unfrequently  confounded  with  horn- 
stone  and  semi-opal.  It  is  almost  always  opake,  or  only 
translucent  on  the  edges,  and  is  hard  enough  to  scratch 
glass.  The  specific  gravity  of  that  of  Meissen  in  Saxo- 
ny, is  2.64  or  2.32.  Pitcbstone  is  composed  of  73  per 
cent,  of  silex,  14.5  of  alumine,  1  of  lime,  1.75  of  soda, 
1  of  oxide  of  iron,  0.1  of  manganese,  and  8.5  of  water. 

The  pitchstone  of  which  the  analysis  is  given,  is  of  a 
yellowish  grey  colour,  and  alternates,  in  the  mountain 
of  Gersebach  between  Meissen  and  Freyberg,  with  a 
porphyry,  having  a  base  of  petrosilex,  which  alternates 


56  ELEMEffTARr  INTRODUCTION 

\vith  gneiss,  and  is  traversed  by  metalliferous  veins. — 
Fitchstone  is  found  in  veins  traversing  granite,  near 
Newry,  in  the  county  of  Down,  in  Ireland.  In  these 
instances  the  pitchstone,  it  seems  reasonable  to  conclude, 
must  be  of  the  same  origin  as  the  rocks  in  which  it  is 
imbedded.  Mineralogists  are  not  agreed  in  opinion  re- 
specting that  of  pitchstone  in  general.  Those  of  Planitz 
in  Saxony,  and  of  Cantal  in  France,  are  considered  to 
be  of  volcanic  origin.  Pitchstone  is  met  with  in  Dum- 
frieshire  in  Scotland,  and  in  several  of  the  Scottish 
islands. 

CLINKSTONE. 

The  clinkstone  is  always  found  massive,  and  whea 
struck  with  a  hammer,  gives  a  ringing  metallic  sound  ; 
whence  its  name.  It  is  of  a  dark  greenish,  yellowish,  or 
ash  grey  colour  :  its  fracture  in  one  direction  is  slaty, 
and  it  is  hard,  brittle,  and  commonly  translucent  on  the 
edges.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.57  ;  and  it  consists  of 
siFex  57.25,  alumine  25.50,  lime  2.75,  soda  8.1,  oxide 
of  iron  3.25,  oxide  of  manganese  0.25,  and  8  of  water. 

The  clinkstone  is  usually  columnar,  and  generally 
rests  upon  basalt.  It  occurs  near  Zittau  in  Upper  Lu- 
sace  ;  in  the  Bohemian  Mittelgebirge  ;  in  South  Ame- 
rica ;  in  the  island  of  Lamlash  in  the  firth  of  Clyde  ;  the 
isles  of  Mull  and  Arran  ;  the  Ochil  and  Pentland  hills  in 
Scotland  ;  the  Breidden  hills  in  Montgomeryshire,  and 
in  the  Dirris  mountain  in  the  county  of  Antrim  in  Ire- 
flnd. 

SODALITE. 

This  rare  mineral  has  only  been  found  associated  with 
sahlite,  augite,  bornblede,  and  garnet,  in  Greenland. 
Its  colour  is  light  green,  or  bluish  green,  and  it  occurs 
massive,  but  more  often  crystallized  in  rhomboidal  da- 
decahedrons.  It  is  translucent,  and  yields  with  difficul- 
ty to  the  knife.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  2.37  ;  and 
according  to  the  analysis  of  Thomson,  it  is  composed 
«*f  38.42  of  silex,  27.48  of  alumine,  2.70  of  lime,  23.5 
of  soda,  3  of  muriatic  acid,  1  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  £1 
of  volatile  matter. 


TO  MKVERALOGV.  57 


CHABASIE. 

This  mineral  is  only  met  with  in  crystals  very  nearly 
approaching  the  cube,  having  the  edges  and  sometimes 
the  angles,  replaced  by  planes  ;  but  oniy  three  varieties 
of  form  have  been  noticed  by  Haiiy,  who  considers 
their  primitive  to  be  an  obtuse  rhomboid  of  9(5°  48'  and 
8S°  12'. 

The  colour  of  the  Chabasie  is  white  or  greyish,  some- 
times pale  red  superficially  ;  it  is  transparent  or  translu- 
cent, and  scarcely  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  about  2.7  ;  and  it  consists  of  43.83  of 
silex,  26  6  of  alumine,  3.34  of  lime,  9.34  of  potash  and 
soda,  and  21  of  water. 

The  Chabasie  is  met  with  in  the  fissures  or  cavities  of 
some  basaltic  rocks,  or  within  geodes  of  quartz  or  agate 
which  are  disseminated  in  rocks.  Ft  is  thus  found  in  the 
quarries  of  Alteberg,  near  Obersteiii  in  Saxony.  It  is 
also  said  to  occur  in  the  lavas  of  the  Isie  of  Ferroe  ;  at 
Talisker  in  the  Isle  of  Skye  ;  at  Glen  Farg  in  Perth- 
shire, and  at  Portrusu  in- the  North  of  Ireland. 

FETTSTEIN. 

The  Fettstein  has  been  found  only  in  Norway  ;  it  oc- 
curs massive,  and  of  a  darkish  green,  bluish  grey,  or 
flesh  red  colour ;  with  natural  joints  parallel  to  the 
faces  of  a  right  rhomboidal  prism  ;  it  is  translucent,  and 
scratches  glass.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.6  ;  and,  accord- 
ing to  Vauquelin  it  is  composed  of  44  of  silex,  34  of 
alumine,  0.  2  of  lime,  16.5  of  potash  and  soda,  and  4- 
of  oxide  of  iron. 

The  Fettstein  is  by  some  mineralogists  supposed  to 
bear  considerable  affinity  to  some  varieties  of  felspar. 
It  has  a  slight  chatoyant  lustre  when  held  in  particular 
directions,  like  that  of  Labradore  felspar.  Both  soda 
and  potash  enter  into  the  composition  of  Fettstein,  the 
former  predominating ;  the  latter  only  is  found  in  fel- 
spar, 


58  ELEMENTARr  INTRODUCTION 


SCAPOLITE. 

The  Scapolite  is  usually  met  with  in  prisms  of  four  01 
eight  sides,  either  terminated  by  planes  or  by  tetrahe- 
dral  pyramids,  and  aggregated  laterally.  Their  coloun 
are  grey  or  yellowish,  sometimes  with  a  pearly  lustre ; 
or  an  almost  metallic  grey ;  sometimes  deep  red  and 
opake  ;  occasionally  apple  green.  The  crystals  posses 
sing  a  pearly  lustre  will  scratch  glass ;  but  when  dull 
with  an  appearance  like  that  of  efflorescing,  they  are 
tender  and  even  friable.  The  scapolite  is  composed  o! 
4.*)  of  silex,  33  of  alumine,  17.6  of  lime,  0.5  of  potash, 
1.5  of  soda,  I  of  oxide  of  iron  and  manganese  .  but  the 
efflorescing  variety  differs,  in  including  some  magnesia, 
and  in  *ewg  without  potash. 

The  Scapolite  has  hitherto  only  been  met  with  in  the 
iron  mine  of  Langloe,  at  Arendahl  m  Norway  :  its  crys- 
tals appear   variously   grouped,    and   accompanied   b} 
brown  mica,  quartz,  garnet,  epidote,  carbonate  of  lirae; 
c. 

JADE. 

The  general  character  of  Jade,  of  which  there  are 
three  varieties,  are,  that  it  al  vays  occurs  massive,  oi 
various  shades  of  green  and  whitish  green,  with  a  greasy 
lustre  ;  it  is  unctuous  to  the  touch,  harder  than  quartz, 
and  very  tough. 

Common  Jade  is  of  a  lake  green  colour,  passing  into 
greenish  white,  semi-transparent,  extremely  tough,  with 
a  glimmering  lustre  and  broad  splintery  fracture.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  2.95  ;  and  it  is  composed  of  53.75  oi 
silex,  1.5  of  alumine,  12.75  of  lime,  8.5  of  potash; 
10.75  of  soda,  5  of  oxide  of  iron,  2  of  oxide  of  manga- 
nese, and  2.25  of  water. 

Of  the  geological  history  of  common  Jade,  nothing  is 
known.  It  is  found  in  Switzerland,  Piedmont  and  Ty- 
rol ;  China  and  India.  It  is  regarded  in  the  latter  coun- 
tries as  a  specific  for  the  nephritic  cholic,  and  is  fashion- 
ed into  forms  of  great  delicacy.  The  Hindoos  and  Chi- 
nese form  it  into  talismans  and  idols ;  the  Turks  into 
sword  and  dagger  handles. 


1 

TO  MINERALOGY.  59 

-  ' 

The  Jlxestone*,  or  Beilstein,  differs  from  common 
jade  in  having  a  slaty  structure,  and  in  being  less  trans- 
parent and  less  tough.  In  America,  it  is  found  in  the 
banks  of  the  river  Amazon ;  whence  it  obtained  the 
name  of  the  Amazonian  stone.  It  is  also  met  with  in 
Corsica,  Switzerland,  and  Saxony;  and  in  New  Zea- 
land and  other  islands  in  the  Pacific  ocean,  where  it  is 
made  into  hatchets,  tomahawks,  and  other  instruments ; 
whence  its  common  name. 

The  Saussurite,  or  Tough  Felspar,  is  greener  than 
the  preceding  varieties,  and  at  least  as  hard  and  as  tough 
as  common  Jade  :  according  to  Saussure,  it  consists  of 
44  parts  of  silex,  30  of  alumine,  4  of  lime,  0*25  of  pot- 
ash, 6  of  soda,  12.5  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  0.5  of  oxide 
of  manganese 

It  was  first  found  by  Saussure,  whence  its  name,  in 
rounded  masses  on  the  edge  of  the  lake  of  Geneva,  and 
afterwards  near  Turin,  in  the  mountain  Mussinet,  which 
is  principally  composed  of  serpentine,  which  enloses 
bydrophane.  Jt  has  since  been  met  with  in  Corsica ;  in 
sand,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Potsdam,  and  near  Aff- 
chanffenberg. 

SOAPSTONE.f 

The  Soapstone  is  found  massive,  and  nearly  white  or 
of  a  grey  colour,  sometimes  with  tinge  of  yellow,  and 
mottled  with  green  or  purple ;  it  is  translucent  on  the 
edges.  Its  fracture  is  somewhat  splintery  ;  it  yields  to 
the  nail ;  from  its  general  aspect  and  unctuous  feel,  its 
name  has  been  derived. 

*  Well  wrought  Stone- Axes ,  of  this  material,  fmooth,  hard,  and  deep 
^reen,  are  brought  from  the  Fegee  and  Friendly  Jflands  by  our  navigators. 
Thofe  ufed  by  the  natives  formerly  inhabiting  the  region  around  New- 
York,  j^cre  formed  of  a  fort  of  coarfe  chert. 

f  It  is  probably  this  Stone  which  has  been  brought  from  the  banks  of  the 
Schuylkill,  for  the  purpofe  of  conftructing  fire  places  in  Sugar- houfcs  and 
Steam-boats.  A  few  years  ago,  a  beautiful  variety  was  brought  from  Or- 
ford  in  New-Hampihire.  It  was  manufactured  into  stoves,  hearths,  chim- 
ney-backs, and  cooking  apparatus,  which  for  a  feafon  were  confiderably  iu 
rife.  But  the  (lone,  in  addition  to  its  natural  brittleness,  and  liability  to  be 
warped  by  heat,  was  found  to  be  penetrated  by  veins  of  quartz,  that 
cracked  and  fplit  by  expofure  to  fire.  The  ftonc  was  maffive,  fine,  and 
yielded  readily  to  the  plane  and  duffel,  except  in  the  parts  where  the  fill* 
ckms  material  prevailed. 


GO          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

It  is  met  with  in  a  vein  in  serpentine  at  the  Lizard 
point  of  Cornwall,  where  it  may  sometimes  be  found 
with  the  appearance  of  passing  into  asbcstuy,  which  oc- 
curs in  veins  in  the  serpentine.  It  is  much  used  in  the 
manufactory  of  porcelain.  It  also  occurs  near  the 
Cheesering,  at  St.  Cleer,  in  Cornwall. 

The  soapstone  of  Cornwall  consists  of  45  per  cent, 
of  silex,  9.25  of  alumine,  24.75  of  magnesia,  0.75  of 
potash,  and  one  of  oxide  of  iron.  It  is  commonly  sup- 
posed to  be  a  variety  of  steatite,  but  is  much  softer. 
In  the  composition  of  the  latter,  no  alumine  has  been 
detected. 

CHLORITE. 

Chlorite  is  composed  of  very  minute  plates  intersect- 
ing each  other  in  various  ways,  giving  to  the  mass  a 
granular  or  earthy  structure  :  it  also  occurs  crystallized 
in  flat  six-sided  crystals,  which  are  readily  divisable  into 
thin  lamina?.  It  is  usually  of  a  dark  green,  sometimes 
of  a  yellowish  green,  with  a  shining  lustre  ;  it  is  opake, 
yields  to  the  nail,  is  somewhat  uuctuous ;  and  when 
massive,  gives  out  an  earthy  smell  when  breathed  on. 

Common  Chlorite  is  usually  found  massive  and  some- 
what solid  ;  its  specific  gravity  is  2.56. 

.  Common  chlorite  is  not  found  in  very  considerable 
masses  ;  but  chiefly  in  the  veins  and  cavities  of  primitive 
rocks  ;  sometimes  it  is  enclosed  in  crystals  of  quartz, 
chalcedony,  felspar,  axinite,  &c.  in  so  large  a  portion 
as  to  impart  a  colour  to  them.  It  frequently  accompa- 
nies»the  oxide  of  tin  and  mispickle  in  the  veins  of  Corn- 
wall ;  and  occasionally,  though  rarely,  yellow  copper. 
It  is  met  with  in  most  chains  of  primitive  mountains. 

When  the  structure  of  chlorite  is  slaty,  it  is  termed 
Chlorite  slate  ;  its  specific  gravity  is  greater  than  that  of 
the  preceding  variety,  being  3.03.  Its  ordinary  colour 
is  blackish  brown.  It  is  met  with  in.  beds  in  primitive 
mountains,  enclosing  crystals  of  quartz,  octahedral  mag 
nHic  iron  ore,  garnets  &c.  and  is  found  in  Cors  ca,  at 
Fahlun  in  Sweden,  in  Norway,  &c.  ;  and  in  Perthshire. 

Scaly  Chlorite  is  of  a  dark  green  colour,  and  is  com- 
posed of  small  glimmering  particles,  having  a  pearly 


TO    MINERALOGY.  6 

lustre ;  it  is  somewhat  unctuous  to  the  touch  ;  is  friable, 
or  loose  ;  and  greatly  resembles  green  earth.  It  is  very- 
light,  and  consists  of  26  of  silex,  18.5  of  alumine,  8  of 
magnesia,  2  of  muriate  of  soda  or  of  potash,  and  43  per 
cent  of  oxide  of  iron. 

It  mostly  occurs  in  the  veins  of  primitive  mountains, 
principally  in  clay  slate,  mixed  with  quartz,  common 
chlorite,  calcareous  spar,  and  micaceous  iron  ore  :  it  is 
also  met  with  in  granular  limestone,  and  in  primitive 
sandstone.  It  is  found  in  Saxony,  Switzerland,  Savoy, 
Sweden,  Hungary,  and  North  Wales, 


SCHORL.* 

Schorl  is  found  massive,  disseminated,  and  crystal- 
lized ;  the  common  form  of  the  crystals  is  a  prism  most- 
ly striated  longitudinally  and  deeply,  and  terminated  at 
each  end  by  3  planes  ;  but  the  crystals  are  sometimes 
very  minute,  closely  aggregated,  and  divergent.  This 
substance  is  black,  brittle,  opake,  and  has  a  glistening 
lustre.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  3.2,  and  it  is  com- 
posed of  about  33  parts  of  silex,  34  of  alumine,  1  of 
magnesia,  6  of  potash,  21  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  a  trace 
of  manganese. 

Schorl,  except  by  the  Wernerian  school,  is  arranged 
among  tourmalines,  from  which  it  differs  in  respect  of 
analysis,  transparency  and  colour.  The  latter  mostly 
occur  imbedded  in  single  crystals  ;  the  former  is  mostl^ 
aggregated,  and  occurs  in  beds. 

It  is  found  in  primitive  rocks  ;  chiefly  in  quartz  and. 
granite  ;  more  rarely  in  gneiss  and  micaceous  scbistus^ 
and  is  frequently  met  with  in  tin  veins. 

Schorl  was  first  found  near  the  village  of  SchorlawiQ 
Saxony,  whence  its  name.  It  is  also  met  with  in  Bohe- 
mia, Bavaria,  Switzerland,  Spain  and  Hungary  >  and  at 
Portsoy  in  Scotland,  and  beneath  the  Logan  Rock,  and 
at  various  places  near  the  Lands'  End  in  Cornwall. 

*  For  the  obfcrvations  on  this  article,  tee  Tourmalint. 


Pf 

£2  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

CLAY-SLATE.*      ARGILLACEOUS  SCHISTUSi 

The  prevailing  colour  of  clay-slate  is  grey  of  various 
shades  ;  it  is  also  bluish  or  blue  ;  and  sometimes  green- 
ish, passing  into  blackish  green.  Its  structure  is  slaty. 
and  it  has  a  glistening  lustre,  sometimes  approaching  to 
pearly  ;  it  is  opake,  and  yields  to  the  knife,  but  varies  in 
hardness,  and  some  varieties  are  somewhat  unctuous  to 
the  touch.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  2.7  ;  and  it  is 
composed  of  48  per  cent,  of  silex,  23.5  of  alumine,  1.6 
of  magnesia,  1 1.3  of  oxide  of  iron,  0.5  of  oxide  of  man- 
ganese, 4.7  of  potash,  0.3  of  carbon,  and  7.6  of  water. 

Clay-slate  occurs  in  vast  strata  in  primitive  mountains, 
and  sometimes  in  veins.  It  is  very  universally  distribu- 
ted in  Britain  ;  it  is  met  with  in  Scotland  and  the 
Scottish  isles,  in  the  northern  parts  of  England,  and 
plentifully  in  Cornwall,  being  the  Killas  of  the  miner. 
The  principal  part  of  the  numerous  copper  and  tin 
mines  of  that  county  are  situated  in  clay-slate ;  which  in 
most  countries  abounds  in  mineral  veins. 

Some  varieties  which  readily  split  into  thin  platet 
are  used  for  the  roofing  of  houses  ;  another  is  used  for 
writing  on  ;  another  as  pencils  ;*  and  some  varieties  as 
whetstones. 


GABKGN1TE. 


The  GUbrOnite  occurs  massive,  and  is  of  a  bluish  or 
greenish  grey  colour  ;  its  fracture  is  lamellar,  it  is  trans- 
lucent on  the  edges,  and  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass, 
though  not  to  give  fire  with  the  steel.  Its  specific  gra- 
vity is  nearly  3  ;  and  it  is  composed  of  54  per  cent,  of 
silex,  24  of  alumine,  1.5  of  magnesia,  17.25  of  potash 

*  Clay  Slate.  Argillaceous  fchiftus,  proper  for  covering  houfes,  h 
brought  to  New- York,  from  Rhinebeck,  Troy,  and  other  places  near  the 
banks  of  the  Hudfon.  It  is  brought  to  Baltimore  from  the  quarries  near 
the  Sufquehannah.  As  the  flate  region  is  of  vaft  extent  in  the  Fredoniau 
States  and  territories,  the  fupply  for  internal  and  domeftic  purpofes  will 
be  adequate  to  the  demands. 

A  coarfer  and  more  brittle  kind  from  the  fame  formations  affords  good 
ftone  for  walls,  furnace?,  and  other  purpofes. 


TO    MINERALOGY,  63 

and  soda,  1.25  of  the  oxides  ofiron  and  manganese,  and 
2  of  water. 

The  Gabronite  has  only  been  found  in  Norway.  The 
bluish  variety,  near  Arendahl,  with  hornblend ;  the 
greenish,  at  Fredericksvarn,  disseminated  in  a  large 
grained  sienite. 

FULLER'S  EARTH. 

Fuller's  earth  occurs  massive,  and  is  usually  of  a 
greenish  brown  colour,  sometimes  nearly  of  the  colour 
of  slate  ;  it  is  dull,  possesses  an  earthy  fracture,  and 
yields  to,  and  receives  a  polish  from  the  nail  :  in  water 
it  becomes  semi-transparent,  and  falls  into  a  pulpy  im- 
palpable powder.  The  English  Fuller's  earth  is  com- 
posed of  53  of  silex,  10  of  alumine,  0.5  of  lime,  1.25  of 
magnesia,  9.5  of  oxide  ofiron,  1  of  muriate  of  soda,  and 
24  of  water. 

AtNutfield,  near  Riegate,  in  Surry,  it  occurs  in  regu- 
lar beds  near  the  summit  of  a  hill  of  considerable  eleva- 
tion, between  beds  of  ferruginous  sand  or  sandstone 
containing  fossil  wood,  cornu  ammonis,  impressions  of 
the  nautilus  and  other  sea-shells.  There  are  two  distinct 
beds  of  Fuller's  earth ;  the  upper,  of  a  greenish  clay 
colour  and  5  feet  in  thickness,  rests  upon  the  other, 
which  is  of  a  light  slate  blue,  and  11  feet  thick  ;  in  these 
beds  but  mostly  in  the  latter,  are  found  considerable 
masses  of  sulphate  of  barytes,  sometimes  exhibiting  re- 
gular crystalizations,  the  interstices  of  which  are  occa- 
sionally filled  up  by  compact  quartz. 

Fuller's  earth  is  also  found  at  Deptling,  near  Maid- 
stone  in  Kent,  and  at  Aspley,  near  Woburn  in  Bedford- 
shire, under  nearly  the  same  circumstances  as  at  Nut- 
field.  At  Old  Down  near  Bath,  it  occurs  mixed  with 
shells,  forming  a  bed  between  the  upper  and  under 
oolite  ;  and  near  Nottingham  in  lumps  in  the  red  marl. 

It  is  found  near  Rosswein  in  Saxony,  under  very  dif- 
ferent circumstances  to  that  of  England.  It  occurs 
among  primitive  rocks,  and  is  supposed  to  originate  in 
the  decomposition  of  greenstone- slate,,  beneath  which 
it  lies. 


64  ELEMENTARF   INTRODUCTION 

Fuller's  earth  was  formerly  much  used  in  the  fulling, 
of  cloth  (whence  its  name,)  and  was  forbidden  to  he 
exported  under  severe  penalties  :  soap  is  now  generally 
substituted. 

BASALT.* 

Basalt  is  of  a  greyish  black  colour,  and  when  polished, 
of  a  bluish  aspect.  It  is  not  easily  broken  ;  its  fracture 
is  dull,  but  fine  grained.  Some  varieties  strike  fire  by  the 
steel,  others  may  be  scratched  by  the  knife.  It  has  a 
tendency  to  form  six-sided  irregular  prisms  or  pillars  j 
of  which  the  Island  of  StafFa  is  entirely  composed.  The 
Giant's  causeway,  on  the  coast  of  Antrim  in  Ireland,  is 
a  huge  pavement  of  strait  pillars  of  Basalt,  running  to 
an  unknown  distance  into  the  sea  ;  and  the  promontory 
of  Fair-head,  a  little  further  north,  exhibits  a  continued 
range,  about  a  mile  in  length,  of  columns  250  feet  highr 
and  from  10  to  20  in  diameter,  being  the  largest  yet 
known.  When  exposed  to  weather,  basalt  crumbles 
down  into  a  fine  black  mould,  which  constitutes  a  very 
fertile  soil.  It  is  to  this  rock  that  some  of  the  richest  parts 
of  Scotland  owe  their  fertility. 

The  basalt  of  Saxony  is  composed  of  44.5  per  cent 
ofsilex,  16.75  of  alumine,  9.5  of  lime,  2.25  of  mag- 
nesia, 2,6  of  soda,  20  of  oxide  of  iron,  0.12  of  oxide  of 
manganese,  and  2  of  water. 

Basalt  is  found  under  very  different  circumstances  : 
it  occurs  filling  up  veins  and  fissures  in  many  primitive 
and  secondary  mountains  ;  sometimes  forms  beds  or 
strata  on  their  summits  ;  and  not  unfrequenfly,  it  tra- 
verses coal-formations,  in  a  direction  nearly  perpendicu- 
lar to  the  beds  of  coal,  which  it  seems  to  have  the  effect 
of  dislocating. 

*  Basalt.  Trap  is  the  name  more  generally  applied,  throughout  Eu- 
rope,, for  the  rock  called  Wbin  in  Scotland,  and  Green  Stone  in  Connecti- 
cut, efpecially  in  the  vicinity  of  New-Haven. — (Slltiman.)  •  •  •  It  con- 
ftitutes  the  Pallifado  Rock,  on  the  weft  of  the  Hudfon,  between  WchawL 
and  Haverftraw. 

There  is  a  remarkable  dyke  or  wall  of  the  Bafaltic  kind  in  North- Ca- 
rolina^-»(2>zp».)  The  Trap  of  Patterfon,  at  Puflaick  falls,  very 

nearly  refembles  the  Bafalt  of  the  Giant's  caufe-way.— {Pierce.} 


TO 

Geologists  are  divided  in  opinion  respecting  the  origin 
of  Basalt.  Werner  supposes  it  to  have  been  deposited, 
like  other  minerals,  by  water  which  covered  the  whole 
earth.  Dolomieu  conceived  basalt  to  be  lava,  and  all 
basaltic  mountains  to  be  the  remains  of  extinct  volca- 
noes. Dr.  Button  and  Professor  Playfair  conceive  it 
to  have  been  fused  by  a  central  fire  of  the  earth,  while 
at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  to  have  been  raised  up 
by  some  natural  agent,  in  common  with  all  other  moun- 
tains. 

With  a  view  to  determine  the  correctness  of  these 
opinions,  Daubiusson  examined  the  basalt  of  Saxony, 
which  chiefly  lies  in  the  Erzebiirge,  or  metalliferous 
mountains;  a  chain  separating  Bohemia  from  Saxony, 
of^  about  120  miles  long,  and  3600  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea.  The  lower  rock  is  granite,  which  is 
covered,  or  rather  wrapt  round,  by  beds  of  gneiss,  mica- 
slate,  and  clay-slate,  lying  above  each  other  in  that  or- 
der. In  these  beds  are  situated  the  great  mines  of 
Saxony.  In  a  chain  of  rocks  of  serpentine  and  quartz, 
are  found  beds  of  limestone,  of  coal,  &c.  The  whole  of 
the  eastern  part  of  the  chain  is  covered  on  one  side  by  a 
huge  bed  of  porphyry,  and  on  the  other  by  a  bed  of 
sandstone  of  equal  magnitude. 

-  Basalt  forms  the  summits  of  about  20  mountains  of 
this  chain,  under  various  forms,  as  of  tables,  comes,  or 
domes:  the  mountains  are  connected  by  their  sides  5 
the  basaltic  top  alone  remaining  separate. 

In  several  instances,  between  the  basalt  and  the  body 
of  the  mountains,  he  found  beds  of  sand,  gravel,  and 
day  :  in  others,  the  basalt  rests  on  sandstone  ;  in  others, 
an  porphyry  ;  in  one,  on  mica  slate  ;  in  three,  on  gra- 
nite ;  and  in  one,  on  gneiss. 

After  a  complete  investigation  of  these  mountains, 
Daubuisson  is  of  opinion  that  there  is  no  analogy  be» 
tvveen  them  and  volcanic  mountains.  They  are  regularly 
stratified,  which  is  never  the  case  in  volcanic  mountains; 
no  trace  of  a  crater  can  be  perceived  ;  nor  any  thing 
decidedly  volcanic.  Besides,  basalt,  wherever  found,  is 
always  composed  of  the  same  consistuents  ;  lava  varies 
considerably.  The  substances  contained  in  basalt,  as 
felspar,  mica,  &c.  retain  their  crystalline  characters 

K  2- 


66  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

without  exhibiting  the  slightest  traces  of  the  action  of 
fire,  though  the  felspar  is  more  fusible  than  the  basalt 
istelf.  Basalt  contains  20  per  cent,  of  iron,  and  there 
is  no  rock  which  could  furnish  such  a  proportion.  It 
contains  5  per  cent,  of  water  of  composition,  which  is 
never  found  in  lava.  It  is  found  lying  immediately  un- 
der or  over  coal,  which  is  in  no  degree  altered  in  its  na- 
ture ;  and  Dolomieu  has  described  no  less  than  20  beds 
of  basalt  alternating  with  as  many  beds  of  limestone 
Containing  marine  shells.  For  these  and  many  other 
conclusive  reasons,  Daubuisson  is  decidedly  of  opinion 
that  the  Saxon  basalt  is  altogether  of  aqueous  origin. 

He  was  afterwards  induced  by  some  zealous  advocates 
for  the  igneous  origin  of  basalt,  to  explore  the  baslt 
country  of  Auvergne  in  France.  The  base  of  this  coun- 
try he  found  to  be  granite  ;  which,  m  the  western  part, 
js  covered  with  gneiss  and  micaceous  schistus,  contain 
jog  metalliferous  veins.  Limestone  and  coal  also  ap- 
pear in  other  districts.  The  chain  of  the  Puys  extenas 
fibove  20  miles  :  most  of  them  are  detached  ;  their  form 
is  a  truncated  cone  ;  and  on  their  summits  there  are 
Cup-like  depressions,  in  some  instances  200  feet  deep. 
Their  general  elevation  is  from  900  to  1300  feet  above 
the  plain;  the  central  and  highest,  the  Puy  de  Dome 
being  near  2000  feet. 

The  substances  chiefly  composing  these  hills,  are, 
scoria?,  lava,  and  other  decided  volcanic  matter. 

In  one  instance  he  traced  the  appearance  of  a  stream 
like  that  of  lava,  200  feet  broad  ;  which  afterwards  di 
?idecl  \  the  soil  it  affords  is  unfruitful. 

Its  characters  differ  in  some  respects  from  common 
basalt ;  the  felspar  has  a  vitreous  aspect,  and  the  quartz 
•g  altered  by  heat. 

Many  other  circumstances  also  contributed  to  induce 
the  full  belief  that  the  basalt  of  Auvergne  is  of  igneous 
origin. 

There  see.ms  therefore  sufficient  grounds  for  conclu- 
ding that,  as  the  basalt  of  Saxony  is  altogether  of  aque- 
ous,origin,  and  that  of  Auvergne  of  igneous  origin,  these 
two  rocks  ought  not,  however,  in  point  of  composition 
and  aspect,  they  may  resemble  each  other,  to  receive 
Ihfi  common  name  of  basalt,  This  seems  to  be  oae  of* 


TO    MINERALOGY.  67 

the  numerous  causes  of  confusion  in  geological  nomen- 
clature. 

In  Scotland,  basalt  is  included,  together  with  many 
other  rocks  of  very  different  natures,  in  the  vague,  bizt 
comprehensive  term  Whin-stone. 


The  Eight  following  substances  have  not  been  analyzed, 
but  are  in  most  mineralogical  arrangements  associated 
with  those  of  which  the  principal  ingredient  is  Silex. 

HORNSTONE. 

This  substance  occurs  in  nodules  and  massive,  with  a 
splintery  fracture,  and  is  translucent,  passing  into  opa&e  ; 
it  is  scarcely  so  hard  as  quartz,  and  is  infusible.  Its  ge- 
neral colour  is  grey,  which  is  tinged  blue,  green,  brown^ 
red  or  yellow. 

Hornstone  is  described  as  occurring  in  round  masses 
in  limestone,  as  in  Bavaria;  and  in  beds  in  limestone  on 
the  banks  of  the  Menai  in  Caenarvonshire  ;  and  some- 
times as  forming  the  basis  of  porphyry,  as  in  Sweden, 
at  Dannemera  and  Garbenburg,  and  also  in  the  Shet- 
land istes.  Wood,  petrified  by  hornstone,  thence  term- 
ed Woodstone  is  met  with  in  ferruginous  sand  near  wo- 
burn  in  Bedfordshire,  and  near  Nutfield  in  Sorry.  I 
have  met  with  Hornstone  in  Pednandrae  Mine  in  Corn- 
wall, passing  into  Chert,  which  is  considered  to  be  al* 
lied  to  it ;  the  fracture  of  Chert  is  flat  conchoidal,  and 
it  generally  has  a  waxy  or  greasy  lustre,  and  is  translu- 
cent on  the  edges.  Its  general  colour  is  grey. 

There  is  a  considerable  bed  of  Chert  near  the  summit 
of  the  Cliff  at  the  Western  lines  in  the  [sle  of  Wight, 
resting,  I  believe,  on  sandstone,  which  having  given  way 
by  exposure,  the  fall  of  the  Chert  has  been  the  prin- 
cipal occasion  of  the  now  beautiful  ruin  beneath.  Chert 
also  occurs  in  some  parts  of  Devonshire  and  Dorsetshirei 
and  is  employed  for  repairing  the  roads.  It  also  occurs 
resting  upon  the  ferruginous  sand  or  sandstone  of  Leith 
Hill  in  Surry  ;  near  the  summit  of  which,  the  sand,  like 
that  beneath  the  Chert  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  contains  or*- 
game  remains  which  aje  denominated  Alcyonia. 


%J-: 

68  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

"'     S-i   ;V;^>: :  '  >f;V  '«sj     ;.  _^.;J.'?  i.. 
CHIASTOL1TE. 

This  mineral  has  only  been  met  with  crystallized  in 
long  slender  rhomboidal  prisms,  composed  of  two  dis- 
tinct substances.  The  exterior  is  greyish  white  or  red- 
dish, the  interior  is  black  or  bluish  black,  and  its  sides 
are  perfectly  parallel  with  those  of  the  exterior  sub- 
stance, which,  in  some  specimens,  is  so  thin  as  to  form  a 
mere  coating.  From  each  of  the  angles  of  the  interior 
prisms,  there  often  proceeds  a  black  line  which  some- 
times reaches  the  corresponding  angles  of  the  coating, 
but  is  sometimes  terminated  by  a  black  rhomboidal 
prism  ;  so  that  the  Chiastolite  occasionally  consists  of 
5  black  rhomboidal  prisms,  communicating  by  black 
threads,  and  as  it  were  imbedded  in  a  greyish  white  or 
reddish  substance,  which  has  a  lamellar  structure,  is 
translucent,  and  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass. 

This  substance  seems  only  to  have  been  discovered 
imbedded  in  argillaceous  or  micaceous  scbistus.  In  the 
former,  it  occurs  in  the  Wolf-crag  near  Kesvvick,  and 
on  the  summit  of  Skiddaw,  in  Cumberland  ;  and  also  at 
St.  Jaques  de  Compostella  in  Spain.  In  the  latter,  it 
is  met  with  in  the  Sierra  del  Marao  in  Portugal.  The 
Chiastolite  is  also  found  in  Britany  in  France,  in  the 
valley  of  Barege  in  the  Pyrennees,  and  at  Aghava- 
nagh,  and  Baltinglass»hill,  in  the  county  of  Wicklow  in 
Ireland. 

SPINELLANE, 

The  Spinellane  has  only  been  found  on  the  borders  of 
the  lake  of  Laacb,  in  a  rock  composed  of  grains  and 
small  crystals  of  glassy  felspar,  quartz,  hornblende,  black 
inica,  and  magnetic  iron  ore.  -It  occurs  in  small  rhom- 
boidal dodecahedrons  of  a  dark  brown  colour,  and  is  sc 
&ard  as  to  scratch  glass. 

HELILITE. 

This  rare  mineral  has  been  met  with  chiefly  in  smaE 
septangular  parallelepipeds  ,  occasionally  in  rectangular 


TO  MINERALOGF*  69 

octahedrons.  Internally  the  crystals  are  of  a  honey  yel-> 
low  or  orange  colour ;  externally  they  are  usually  coat- 
ed by  oxide  of  iron  of  a  yellowish  brown  colour ;  they 
give  sparks  by  the  steel.  The  Melilite  has  only  been 
found  at  Capo  di  Bove  near  Rome,  in  the  fissures  of  a 
compact  black  lava. 

WACKU.* 

Wacke  is  of  various  shades  of  greenish  and  yellowish 
grey,  and  occurs  either  solid  or  cellular  :  when  the  cells 
are  hollow,  or  filled  by  some  other  substance,  as  quartz, 
chalcedony,  or  carbonate  of  lime,  the  compound  is  de- 
nominated Amygdaloid.  Wacke  has  an  earthy  fracture, 
is  opake,  and  generally  yields  easily  to  the  knife* 

According  to  Werner  it  occurs  in  beds,  which  gene- 
rally lie  under  basalt,  and  above  clay,  as  at  Fichtelberg, 
and  Marienberg,  in  the  hills  of  Schnegenberg ;  and  fre- 
quently contains  imbedded  crystals  of  mica,  and  basaltic 
hornblende.  It  also  occurs  in  veins.  At  Joachimsthal 
in  Bohemia  it  encloses  petrified  wood,  native  bismuth, 
and  fragments  of  certain  primitive  rocks ;  and  at  Kal- 
lennordheim  in  Franconia,  fossil  bones  :  it  is  found  also 
at  Westmanland  in  Sweden,  and  in  Iceland. 

The  Amygdaloid  or  Toadstonc  of  Derbyshire  is  consi- 
dered by  Werner  to  be  a  variety  of  transition  Trap. 

Iron  Clay,  the  Eisenthon  of  Werner,  is  considered  by 
some  as  a  variety  of  Wacke  ;  their  general  characters 
are  the  same  ;  but  the  colour  of  the  former  is  reddish 
brown ;  they  both  occasionally  constitute  the  basis  of 
amygdaloid. 

SHALE.f     'SLATE-CLAY. 

Shale  occurs  only  massive  ;  its  general  colour  is  grey, 
which  sometimes  is  bluish,  yellowish  or  blackish  ;  in 

*  Wacke.  This  has  been  found  in  detached  mafias.  Fine  Amygdaloid, 
of  a  brown  colour,  and  interfpcrfed  with  white  fpots,  has  been  brought 
from  Labrador. 

t  Shale.  Carbonaceous  fliale,  or  coal  flate,  overlays  the  ftrata  of  Coal 
in  Rhode-Ifland,  and  is  diftinguished  by  impreflions  of  fern  and  capillary 
plants.— (Case.) 

At  Olaftonbury,  near  Connecticut  river,  bituminous  Shale  esifts,  ccr^ 


70  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

one  direction  its  structure  is  slaty,  in  the  other,  earthy  ; 
it  usually  adheres  a  little  to  the  tongue  and  yields  to  the 
nail,  and  is  opake,  meagre  to  the  touch,  and  dull,  excepi: 
from  casually  imbedded  mica,  which  sometimes  imparts 
a  glimmering  lustre  :  its  specific  gravity  is  about  2.6. 

Shale  has  the  usual  characters  of  clays,  by  becoming 
plastic  in  water  ;  it  disintegrates  on  exposure  to  air.  A 
variety  found  at  Menil-rnontant  near  Paris,  enclosing  the 
menilite,  yielded  66  per  cent,  of  silex  :  it  adheres  strong- 
ly to  the  tongue. 

It  is  found  in  beds  and  strata  in  schist  ;  in  alluvial  de- 
posites;  and  resting  upon,  as  well  as  interposed  between, 
beds  of  coal,  which  it  invariably  accompanies.  It  often 
contains  impressions  of  reeds  and  of  ferns ;  and  I  am 
informed  by  my  friend  L.  W.  Dillwyn,  well  known  for 
his  curious  botanical  researches,  that  he  has  never  dis- 
covered a  single  impression  of  fern  in  shale,  perfect  as 
these  impressions  usually  are,  exhibiting  its  well  known 
appearance  of  fructification. 

A  variety  of  shale  usually  accompanies  coal,  and  is 
sometimes  intermixed  with  it,  which,  from  its  black  co- 
lour and  bituminous  quality,  is  termed  black  bituminous 
shale.  It  occurs  in  every  independent  coal-formation. 
Its  structure  is  slaty  :  when  subjected  to  the  flame  of  a 
candle,  it  blazes ;  in  the  fire  it  crackles,  emits  a  black 
smoke  and  bituminous  odour,  loses  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  its  weight,  and  is  converted  into  a  whitish  or 
reddish  Oaky  ash. 

Another  variety  of  Bituminous  shale,  of  a  brown  co- 
lour, is  met  with  at  Kirnmeridge  in  Hampshire,  which 
from  its  giving  out  a  bituminous  odour  when  placed  in 
the  flame  of  a  candle,  or  in  the  fire,  is  termed  Kim- 
meridge  Coal.  By  exposure  to  a  considerable  heat,  the 

taining  plain  impreflions  of  fi(h,  with  their  fcalea,  fins,  rays,  and  other 
parts,  very  apparent.— (Bruta.) 

Argillaceous  Shale  has  been  brought  to  me  from  Wilkesbarre,  in  which 
were  impreffions  of  feras,  and  of  the  bark,  to  all  appearance,  of  the  Palm- 
tree.—-  (  Bradbury.) 

The  Killas  of  the  Waalkill,  near  Montgomery,  abounds  with  fliells  oi 
bivalve  mollufcas,  fuch  as  anomias  and  terebratulas.  In  thefe,  the  real 
{hells  exift  ;  being  neither  wafted  away  fo  as  to  leave  cavities  and  impres- 
sions, nor  converted  by  petrifaction  to  a  ftony  condition. 


TO   MINERALOGY.  71 

bituminous  part  is  consumed,   and  it  is  reduced  to  a 
grey  earthy  ash. 

FLINTY    SLATE.*      INDURATED    SLATE. 
SILICEOUS  SCHISTUS. 

Of  Indurated  Slate,  there  are  two  or  three  varieties, 

Common  indurated  Slate.  This  substance  is  of  about 
the  same  hardness  as  quartz,  which  commonly  traverses 
it  in  small  white  veins.  Its  colour  is  very  various  ;  grey 
bluish  grey,  and  red ;  its  structure  is  somewhat  slaty, 
and  it  is  translucent  on  the  edges. 

A  specimen  analized  by  Weiglib  yielded  75  per  cent, 
of  silex,  the  remainder  being  lime,  magnesia,  and  oxide 
of  iron. 

It  is  chiefly  found  in  beds  in  transition  mountains, 
and  occurs  in  Saxony,  the  Hartz,  in  the  Lead  hills  and 
other  places  in  the  South  of  Scotland.  At  Saaska  in 
the  Bannat,  and  in  Greece,  it  occurs  in  large  masses  in 
transition  limestone. 

Lydian  Stone,  or  Basanite,  is  of  a  black  or  greyish 
black  colour,  and  is  always  found  massive,  never  with  a 
slaty  structure  ;  it  is  often  traversed  by  veins  of  quartz  ; 
it  is  opake,  less  hard  than  the  foregoing  variety,  and  its 
fracture  is  flat  conchoidal. 

It  occurs  in  similar  formations  and  repositories  with 
common  indurated  slate  ;  and  is  found  near  Prague  and 
Carlsbad  in  Bohemia  ;  near  Freyberg  in  Saxony  ;  and 
in  the  Moorfoot  and  Pentland  Hills  near  Edinburgh.  It 
was  first  brought  from  Lydia  in  Lesser  Asia  ;  whence  its 
name. 

When  polished,  it  is  used  to  try  gold  and  silver  upon, 
by  a  comparison  of  colour,  and  has  thence  obtained  the 
familiar  name  of  the  Touchstone. 

Stripe'*  Jasper  by  some  is  considered  as  a  variety  of 
agate  or  jasper,  by  others,  of  flinty  slate  ;  it  sometimes 
shews  a  tendency  to  a  slaty  structure  ;  it  occurs  in  bands 
or  stripes  of  various  shades  of  yellow,  green,  purple,  and 

*  Flinty  Slate.  The  Touch-ftone  is  occafionally  found  along  the  fhore* 
near  New-York,  in  rounded  mattes ;  which,  by  the  blackness  of  their 
ftaoothed  furfaces,  contraft  well  with  the  gold,  filver  and  copper,  which 
are  rubbed  upon  them. 


72          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

red  ;  from  which  it  has  obtained  the  familiar  name  of 
Ribbon  Agate,  or  Ribbon  Jasper. 

It  is  found  in  considerable  beds.  It  occurs  in  Sax- 
ony, the  Hartz,  and  in  Sicily  ;  and  forms  whole  hills  in 
Siberia. 

WHET  SLATE.* 

It  is  found  massive,  with  a  slaty  structure,  and  is  most 
commonly  of  a  greenish  grey  colour,  sometimes  yellow- 
ish or  brownish  grey ;  it  is  translucent  on  the  edges, 
yields  to  the  knife,  and  is  somewhat  unctuous  to  the 
touch. 

It  occurs  in  primitive  mountains  at  Lauenstein  in 
Bayreuth,  in  Saxony,  and  near  Freyberg  in  Bohemia : 
it  was  first  brought  to  Europe  from  the  Levant.  When 
cut  and  polished,  it  is  used  for  sharpening  knives  and 
other  instruments  ;  whence  its  name. 

*  Whetslate.  A  fpecies  of  flaty  whjstftone  is  quarried  in  the  north-east* 
cm  part  of  Pennfylvania,  and  has  been  brought  to  New- York,  for  the 
Tmrpofe  of  Sharpening  edged  tools.  It  is  of  an  olive-brown  colour,  of  a 
fcne  fmooth  grain,  and  eafy  to  work ;  but  its  foftness  tnakes  it  wear  away 

t. 00  ftlSt. 


ALUMINE  or  ARGIL. 

THIS  substance  obtained  the  name  of  Alumine  from 
its  forming  the  base  of  common  Alum  ;  and  that  of  Ar- 
gil, from  the  Latin,  Argilla,  Clay,  on  account  of  its 
being  a  constituent  of  Clays,  though  rarely  in  a  greater 
proportion  than  one  third  or  one-fourth;  nevertheless, 
clays  are  termed  argillaceous  substances,  and  those  rocks, 
of  which  Argil  forms  a  notable  proportion,  are  termed 
Argillaceous  rocks  ;  one  character  of  which  is,  that  they 
give  out  a  peculiar  odour  when  breathed  on,  that  may 
always  be  regarded  as  a  mineralogical  test  of  the  pre- 
sence of  Argil,  whence  it  has  been  termed  the  Argilla- 
ceous odour  ;  but  as  it  does  not  belong  to  pure  Alumine, 
it  is  considered  to  be  owing  to  a  combination  of  that 
substance  with  the  oxide  of  iron,  which  generally  enters 
into  the  composition  of  argillaceous  minerals. 

Alumine,  when  pure,  is  perfectly  white,  and  is  desti- 
tute of  taste  and  srnell  ;  its  specific  gravity  is  2.0 :  and  it 
is  infusible,  except  by  voltaic  electricity.  It  has  already 
been  said,  in  treating  of  the  Earths  generally,  that  Alu- 
mine  is  not  a  simple  substance,  and  that  Sir  H.  Dav^ 
has  ascertained  it  to  be  composed  of  oxygen  united  with. 
a  base,  •/llumium,  in  the  proportion  of  46  of  the  former 
to  54  of  the  latter;  but  though  the  results  afford  a  strong 
presumption  that  Alumine  is  a  metallic  oxide,  its  base 
has  not  been  yet  obtained  in  such  a  state  as  to  make  it  a 
fit  object  for  investigation. 

As  the  precise  nature  of  its  base  is  unknown,  Alumine 
is  still  ranked  among  the  Earths.  As  an  earth,  it  may 
be  said  that  it  is  never  found  pure.  It  enters  largely 
into  the  composition  of  many  earthy  minerals,  and  ic 
small  quantity  in  some  metalliferous  ores.  Jt  is  an  in- 
gredient, in  a  large  portion,  of  some  of  the  most  abun- 
dant rocks,  primitive,  secondary  and  alluvial,  and  is 
found  in  all  soils.  It  is  the  most  abundant  of  all  the 
Earths,  except  Silex. 

G 


174  ELEMESTARy    INTRODUCTION 

It  occurs  combined  with  the  fluoric  and  sulphuric  acids; 
and  with  the  Alkalies,  Potash  and  Soda. 

Aluraine  is  found  in  the  greatest  purity  in  corundum 
and  its  varieties. 


tlORUNDUM. 

The  varieties  included  under  this  term,  viz.  Corun- 
dum, Oriental  Ruby,  Saphire,  and  Emery,  are  the  hard- 
est substance  in  nature,  except  the  Diamond,  and  the 
most  ponderous  of  stony  substances  ;  their  specific  gravi- 
ty varies  from  3.66  to  4.08.  The  saphire  is  the  heavi- 
est. The  lamellar  structure  is  remarkably  visible  in  the 
common  Corundum,  which  readiiy  splits  into  rhomboids, 
of  which  the  angles  are  considered  to  be  86°  38'  and 
93°  22'.  All  the  varieties  of  Corundum  belong  exclu- 
sively to  primitive  countries. 

Common  Corundum,  probably  from  its  texture,  has 
received  the  name  of  imperfect  Corundum  ;  and  from  it? 
hardness,  that  of  Adamantine  Spar.  It  is  sometimes 
nearly  colourless,  and  somewhat  translucent;  but  more 
often  has  a  greyish  or  greenish  tint,  occasionally  reddish, 
or  brownish,  with  a  metallic  chatoyant  lustre  ;  it  is  more 
rarely  yellow  and  transparent,  or  black  and  opake. 
The  common  form  of  its  crystal  is  the  hexahedral  prism, 
which  rarely  shews  a  tendency  to  flat  triedral  termina- 
tions ;  it  occurs  also  in  obtuse,  and  in  acute,  hexahe- 
dral pyramids.  It  consists  of  about  90  per  cent,  of  alu- 
mine,  5  of  silex,  and  some  oxide  of  iron  :  in  some  va- 
rieties of  Corundum,  the  latter  does  not  exceed  one 
per  cent. 

Adamantine  spar  is  found  in  India,  in  a  granite  rock, 
imbedded,  after  the  manner  of  felspar.  It  is  often  ac- 
companied by  the  fibrolite,  talc,  garnet,  zircon,  and 
magnetic  iron.  It  is  also  found  in  China,  nearly  under 
the  same  circumstances.  It  occurs  every  where  from 
China  to  Bengal ;  in  the  kingdom  of  Ava,  and  on  the 
coast  of  Malabar :  its  gangue,  in  the  Carnatic,  is  a 
coarse-grained  white  marble.  It  has  been  found  in  Italy 


TO  MINEHALOGY.  73 

in  micaceous  schistus,  and  entering  into  the  composi- 
tion of  granite  in  North  America.* 

The  yellow  is  found  in  Bengal ;  the  brown,  with  a 
chatoyant  lustre,  on  the  coast  of  Malabar;  the  black  in 
China.  . 

In  the  East  Indies  it  is  used  for  polishinfg  steel,  and 
cutting  and  polishing  gems ;  but  the  lapidaries  of  Eu- 
rope prefer  diamond-powder,  on  account  of  the  greater 
rapidity  with  which  it  works. 

The  Oriental  Ruby,  or  Oriental  Amethyst,  is  "usually 
of  a  brilliant  red  colour;  sometimes  nearly  of  a  violet 
colour ;  occasionally  either  wholly,  or  partly,  colour- 
less and  transparent ;  often  chatoyant,  when  it  is  termed 
Asteria,  or  Star-stone. 

The  Saphire  varies  from  the  preceding  variety  prin- 
cipally in  respect  of  its  colours,  which  are  blue,  yellow, 
or  yellowish  green ;  when  blue,  it  is  properly  the  sa- 
phire ;  when  yellow,  it  is  by  lapidaries  termed  the  Ori- 
ental Chrysolite,  or  Oriental  Topaz*,  when  yellowish 
green,  the  Oriental  Emerald. 

The  Oriental  ruby  and  the  saphire  do  not  essentially 
differ  from  common  corundum  in  respect  of  analysis. 
A  variety  of  the  latter  consisted  so  nearly  of  pure  alu- 
mine,  that  Klaproth  found  only  (K5  of  silex  and  1  of 
oxide  of  iron.  The  general  forms  of  their  crystals  are 
much  the  same  as  those  of  common  corundum,  but  their 
planes  are  usually  more  numerous.  These  gems  are 
said  to  have  been  found  in  granite,  and  in  sienite,  in 
the  kingdom  of  Pegu  and  the  Island  of  Ceylon :  but 
they  are  more  commonly  met  with  in  alluvial  deposites, 
and  in  brooks  in  the  neighbourhood  of  primitive  moun- 
tains. They  have  been  thus  found  in  the  brook  Ex- 

*  Good  judges  affirm  that  Adamantine  Spar  has  been  found  near  Phila* 
delphia,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Baltimore,  and  at  Had  dam,  Conn,  in 
granite..  That  of  Chefnut-hill  is,  in  external  appearance,  very  much  like 
that  of  Bombay,  but  differs  from  it  in  being  free  from  pyrites,  and  in 
being  much  more  regularly  figured.  Its  colour  is  a  light  green,  and  its 
hardnefs  fuch  as  to  cut  glafs  very  readily.  Some  fpecimens  have  the 
luftre  of  glafs,  while  others  are  not  fo  bright.  It  is  bedded  in  granite,  or 
rather  forms  an  ingredient  of  that  rock,  afTociated  with  flefh-coloured 
ieldfpar,  fmoky  quartz  i  grcenifli  mica,  ftriated  cry ftals  of  black  fchoerl,an4 
ibmetimea  fmall  garnets.— (Med.  Repos.  PoL.^  $>.  303.) 


76  ELEMENRABY    INTRODUCTION 

pailly  in  France ;  near  Meronitz  and  Billin  in  Bohemia  j 
they  have  also  been  found  in  the  province  of  Forez  in 
France. 

The  value  of  these  gems  in  jewellery  is  well  known. 
It  is  said  that  those  of  a  light  blue  colour,  rpay  be  divest- 
ed of  it  by  heating  them  in  a  charcoal  crucible,  without 
injuring  their  other  properties,  and  that  they  are  then 
often  sold  as  diamonds. 

Emery,  though  it  bears  very  little  resemblance  to  the 
preceding,  is,  from  its  hardness  and  anal)  sis,  consider- 
ed to  be  a  variety  of  Corundum.  It  usually  occurs  in 
masses  of  a  blackish  or  bluish  grey  colour,  having  the 
aspect  rather  of  a  fine  grained  rock,  than  of  a  simple 
mineral. 

It  is  found  in  the  East  Indies,  enclosing  whitish  or 
reddish  talc,  and  small  portions  of  magnetic  iron.  That 
of  Jersey  resembles  magnetic  iron  in  mass,  enclosing 
white  Mica.  That  of  Smyrna  is  also  micaceous  ;  and 
encloses  magnetic  iron  and  sulphuret  of  iron.  In  the 
isle  of  Naxos,  emery  is  found  in  rounded  masses  at  the 
foot  of  primitive  mountains.  It  occurs  in  Italy  and  in 
Spain  :  but  that  of  Ochsenkopf,  near  Swartzenberg  in 
Saxony,  seems  to  be  the  only  variety  which  has  been 
seen  in  its  native  place.  It  is  disseminated  in  a  bed  of 
hard  steatite,  of  a  yellowish  grey  or  apple  green  colour, 
mixed  with  common  talc. 

It  is  largely  used  for  cutting  and  polishing  by  lapida- 
ries, and  by  workers  in  glass,  steel,  &c. 

FIBIIOLITE. 

The  Fibrolite  is  white,  or  of  a  dirty  grey  colour  :  it 
is  fibrous,  and  harder  than  quartz.  The  fibres  are  rarely 
so  large  as  to  present  any  very  determinate  form  ;  but 
the  Count  de  Bournon  observed  some  in  that  of  a  right 
prism  with  rhombic  bases,  of  which  the  angles  are  100° 
and  80°.  The  Fibrolite  is  infusible  ;  its  specific  gravity 
is  about  3.2 ;  and  it  is  composed  of  58  of  alumine  and 
38  of  silex. 

It  is  found  accompanying  crystals  of  corundum  in  the 
Carnatic  and  in  China.  * 


TO  MINER ALOGi'.  77 


ROTTENSTONE. 

The  Rottenstone  is  commonly  considered  as  a  variety 
of  Tripoli,  from  which  it  essentially  differs  in  respect  of 
composition.  It  is  found  at  Bake  well  in  Derbyshire. 
It  is  of  a  dirty  reddish  brown  or  nearly  black  colour, 
yields  to  the  nail,  and  is  fetid  when  rubbed  or  scraped  : 
it  is  composed  of  86  parts  of  alumine,  4  of  silex,  and  10 
of  carbon. 

FINITE.* 

The  Finite  is  found  generally  in  six-sided  crystals, 
sometimes  modified,  of  a  brown,  blackish-brown  or  grey 
colour  :  externally  ks  crystals  are  ochreous,  and  usually 
give  out  an  argillaceous  smell  when  breathed  on.  The 
Finite  consits  of  about  74  of  alumine,  29  of  silex,  and  7 
of  oxide  of  iron. 

It  was  first  discovered  in  granite,  near  Schneeberg  in 
Saxony,  in  the  mine  called  Pini,  whence  its  name  :  it 
has  since  been  found  in  the  Puy  de  Dome  in  France,  ift. 
a  porphyritic  felspar  :  it  also  occurs  at  St.  Michael's 
Mount,  in  Cornwall,  in  granite  veins  5  at  Ben  Gloe 
and  Blair-Gowrie  in  porphyry. 

CYANlTE,f  Or  SAPPARE, 

This  mineral  usually  occurs  in  lamellar  oblique  prisms^ 
of  a  bluish  or  pearl-grey  colour,  having  a  pearly  lustre  : 
it  scratches  glass  when  held  in  one  direction,  but  yields 
to  glass  in  another  direction :  it  becomes  electric  by 
friction.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  3.5,  and  it  con- 
sists of  about  55*5  per  cent,  of  alumine,  43  of  silex,  and 
0.5  of  oxide  of  iron.  It  is  infusible. 

It  is  usually  found  in  primitive  rocks  ;  and  occurs  in 
Scotland,  at  Bohan  in  BamTshire  ;  near  Banchory  in 

*  Pinite—At  Haddam,  in  cryftals  which  are  fomethnes  feveral  inches  in 
length,  fituated  in  micaceous  rocks.— (5/7/A»a«.)  '  • 

f  Cyanite.  Found  in  large  lamellar  maffes,  at  Chefterfield,  Mass.  (Hunt.) 
and  various  other  places,  in  Maryland,  Pennfylvania,  Connecticut  and 
Maincv 

n  o 


. 

78          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

Aberdeenshire  :  and  in  the  Mainland,  the  largest  of  tht 
Shetland  islands  :  it  also  occurs  in  the  Tyrol ;  in  Siberia ;. 
and  near  Lyons,  in  France,  in  granite,  &tc. 

DIASPORE. 

The  Diaspore  is  a  rare  mineral,  having  for  its  gangue 
a  ferruginous  clay,  but  nothing  is  known  of  its  geologi 
cal  situation.  It  is  composed  of  a  mass  of  slightly  cur- 
vilinear laminae  of  a  pearly  lustre,  which  may  be  readily 
separated  from  each  other.  By  exposure  to  the  heat  of 
a  candle,  k  crackles  and  flies  off  in  minute  fragments 
with  a  brisk  decrepitation  :  this  is  supposed  to  be  owing 
ko  the  water  it  contains.  The  Diaspore  scratches  glass : 
it  specific  gravity  is  3.43  ;  and  it  consists  of  80  per 
Cent,  of  alumine,  0.3  of  iron,  and  17  of  water.  It  is 
Conjectured  by  some  to  be  a  variety  of  the  Wavelite, 

STAUROLITE.* 

The  Staurolite  is  of  a  greyish  or  reddish  brown  co- 
iour,  and  occurs  usually  in  rhomboidal  or  hexahedral 
prisms,  of  which  the  terminal  edges  are  sometimes  re- 
placed. Haliy  has  noticed  seven  varieties  in  the  form 
of  its  crystals,  which  commonly  intersect  each  other  at 
right  angles  ;  and  he  considers  the  primitive  to  be  a 
right  rhomboidal  prism  of  129°  30'  and  50°  30'.  The 
Staurolite  is  sometimes  opake,  sometimes  translucent, 
with  a  vitreous  lustre  ;  of  about  the  hardness  of  quart/. 
and  infusible.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  3.30  ;  and  it 
*s  composed  of  52.25  of  alumine,  27  ofsilex,  18.5  of 
Oxide  of  iron,  and  0.25  of  oxide  of  manganese. 

When  of  a  reddish  brown  colour,  and  in  the  form  of 
four  or  six-sided  prisms,  it  has  sometimes,  from  its  re- 
6embling  the  garnet  in  colour,  been  called  the  Grenatite. 

The  Staurolite  belongs  to  primitive  countries.  It  has' 

*  Staurolite.  The  firft  American  Staurolitcs  I  faw,  were  from  Vir- 
ginia, having  been  found  loofe  on  the  ground  of  the  upper  country,  where 
they  might  be  gathered  by  handfulk  The  cryftals  crofled  each  other  ob 
fiquely.— (#wr-u>,.-//.j  This  mineral  was  brought  from  Maine.— (GoJon.] 
Vine  fpecimens  have  been  received  from  Bowdoinhaci  or  its  vicinity. 
—(Cleveland.) 


TO  MINERALOGY.  79 

been  found  in  Brittany,  near  Quimper,  in  a  micaceous 
clay,  considered  to  be  the  debris  of  a  primitive  rock  :  it 
occurs  also  at  St.  Gothard,  imbedded  in  micaceous 
schistus ;  and  at  St.  Jago  de  Compostella  in  a  primitive 
rock,  and  is  accompanied  by  the  Cyanite. 

AUTOMALITE. 

The  Automalite  is  by  some  considered  to  be  a  variety 
of  tbe  Spinelle  Ruby  ;  and  as  it  contains  a  considerable 
proportion  of  the  oxide  of  zinc,  it  has  obtained  the  name 
of  the  Zinciferous  Spinelle  ;  sometimes  it  is  called  the 
Gahnite,  in  honour  of  Gahn,  its  discoverer.  The  spe- 
cific gravity  of  the  Automalite  is  4.26 — 4,69  :  it  is  there- 
fore much  heavier  than  the  Spinelle  Ruby,  from  which 
it  also  differs  in  being  nearly  opake,  and  of  a  dark  bluish- 
green  colour,  as  well  as  essentially  in  respect  of  compo- 
sition :  it  consists  according  to  Vauquelin  of  42  parts  of 
alumine,  4  of  silex,  28  of  oxide  of  zinc,  5  of  oxide  of 
iron,  and  17  of  sulphur.  Some  mineralogists  have  con- 
cluded that  the  Automalite  is  the  Pleonaste  loaded 
with  sulphuret  of  zinc  ;  which  amounts  to  an  acknow- 
ledgment that  it  is  essentially  a  very  different  substance ; 
and  therefore  it  ought  not  to  be  considered,  any  more 
than  the  Pleonaste,  as  a  variety  of  the  Spinelle  Ruby. 

It  is  found  only  at  Fahlun  in  Sweden  in  a  talcosed 
rock. 

CHRYSOBERYLL. 

This  substance  occurs  in  rounded  pieces>  mas9iver 
and  crystallized ;  it  is  of  a  green  colour,  sometimes 
with  a  yellowish  or  brownish  tinge,  and  occasionally 
shows  an  opalescing  bluish  white  light  internally.  The 
general  form  of  the  crystals  is  prismatic  ;  the  prisms  are 
terminated  by  a  variable  number  of  planes.  It  readily 
becomes  electric  by  fri«tion  ;  is  infusible,  semi-transpa- 
rent, and  scratches  quartz.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about 
3.8.  That  of  Brazil  is  composed  of  71.5  per  cent,  of 
alumine,  16  of  silex,  6  of  lime,  and  1.5  of  oxide  of  iron. 
It  is  sometimes  called  the  Oriental  or  Opalescent  Chry* 
solite. 


SO  ELEMENTARY  INTKODUCTION 

It  is  chiefly  procured  from  Brazil,  where  it  is  found 
accompanying  topazes ;  and  has  been  noticed  in  sand 
from  Ceylon,  together  with  rubies  and  saphires  :  a  few 
specimens  have  been  brought  from  Nerbschinsk  in  Sibe- 
ria. Its  geological  situation  is  not  known. 

SOMMITE. 

The  Sommite  usually  occurs  in  grains,  or  in  small  re« 
gular  hexahedral  prisms  (the  form  of  the  primitive  crys- 
tal,) of  which  the  lateral  edges  are  sometimes  replaced. 
It  is  of  a  greyish  or  greenish-white  colour,  with  a  shining 
vitreous  lustre,  and  scratches  gtass.  The  Sommite  con- 
siderably resembles  phosphate  of  lime,  but  may  be  dis- 
tinguished by  its  superior  hardness,  and  by  its  not  giving 
a  phosphorescent  light  when  placed  on  a  live  coal.  Its 
.specific  gravitv  is  about  3.2 ;  and  it  is  composed  of  49  of 
alumine,  46  of  silex,  2  of  lime,  and  1  of  oxide  of  iron. 

It  has  been  found  only  in  the  cavities  of  the  lava  of 
that  part  of  Vesuvius  called  Mont  Somma  ;  where  it  is 
accompanied  by  mica  and  idocrase. 

MfilONlTE. 

This  mineral,  like  the  preceding,,  has  only  been  mei 
with  among  the  substances  ejected  by  Vesuvius,  in  the 
cavities  of  white  granular  limestone.  It  usually  occurs 
in  four  or  eight-sided  prisms,  terminated  by  tetrahedral 
pyramids.  Haiiy  notices  three  varieties  in  the  form  of 
its  crystals,  of  which  he  considers  the  primitive  to  be  a 
right  prism  with  square  bases  :  its  colour  is  whitish,  or 
greyish  white,  with  a  shining  vitreous  lustre,  and  it  is 
translucent  or  transparent.  Its  specific  gravity  is  3.1. 

PLEONASTE, 

:,""'V:i,"  '    J 

The  Pleonaste  is  comraoflly  considered  to  be  a  vari- 
ety of  the  Spinelle  Ruby  ;  but  it  is  less  hard,  and  a  little 
heavier,  and  differs  from  it  greatly  in  colour  and  in  com- 
position. Its  specific  gravity  is  about  3.8 ;  and  it  is  com- 
fosedof  72.25. of  ulunaine,  5.48  of  silex,  14.63  of  mag- 
nesia, and  4.26  of  prot-Qxide.  qf  iron.  Its  general  co- 


TO    MINERALOGY.  81 

lours  also  differ  from  the  Ruby  :  the  Pleonaste  appears 
nearly  black  ;  but  when  placed  between  ihe  eye  and  the 
light,  it  is  translucent,  and  green  or  blue.  Some  have 
been  brought  from  Ceylon  of  a  sky-blue,  others  of  a  yel- 
lowish colour. 

The  Pleonasle  principally  agrees  with  the  Spinelle 
Ruby,  in  being  chiefly  composed  of  aiumine,  and  in  ex- 
ternal form  ;  both  occur  in  the  octohedron,  which  pas- 
ses into  the  rhomboidal  dodecahedron. 

The  geological  situation  of  the  Pleonaste  differs  for 
the  most  part  from  that  of  the  Spinelle  Ruby.  The 
Pieonaste  is  found,  accompanied  by  tourmalines,  &c.  in 
the  rivers  and  alluvial  country  of  Ceylon.  It  has  often 
been  found  in  the  cavities  of  the  lavas  of  Vesuvius,  and 
of  Sornma.  It  is  also  met  with  in  the  volcanic  rocks  of 
Somma,  both  calcareous  and  granitic  ;  and  in  those  of 
Laach,  near  Andernach,  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine.—— 
Haliy  seems  to  be  of  opinion  that  the  latter,  which  is 
commonly  termed  the  blue  Spinelle,  should  be  consider- 
ed as  a  variety  of  the  Haiiyne. 

LAZULITE. 

This  mineral  is  by  Jameson  called  the  Azurite,  and 
is  perfectly  distinct  from  Lapis  Lazuli,  which  is  not 
satisfactorily  ascertained  ever  to  have  been  found  in  a 
crystalline  form  ;  whereas  the  Lazulite  is  often  found  in 
quadrangular,  though  riot  very  perfect,  crystals  of  a  blue 
colour;  it  is  rarely  massive,  and  then  in  fine  grains,  or 
in  masses  not  exceeding  the  size  of  a  hazel  nut  ;  it  is 
translucent  on  the  edges,  brittle,  and  nearly  as  hard  as 
quartz.  It  is  composed  of  68  per  cent,  of  aiumine,  10 
of  silex,  2  of  lime,  18  of  magnesia,  and  2.5  of  oxide  of 
iron. 

It  occurs  in  Vorau  in  Siiria,  in  a  gangue  of  quartz,  in 
a  vein  passing  through  micaceous  schistus  ;  but  the  most 
beautiful  specimens  are  found  in  the  bisLoprick  of  Salz- 
burg. 


82  ELEMENT AHY  INTRODUCTION- 


ANDALUSITE. 

The  Andalusite  occurs  in  small  masses  of  a  reddish 
or  purplish  colour,  having  a  lamellar  structure,  with 
natural  joints  parallel  wilh  the  sides  of  a  rectangular 
prism  ;  it  scratches  quartz,  and  sometimes  even  the 
Spindle  Ruby.  Its  specific  gravity  is  3.16 ;  and  it  is 
composed  of  52  of  aluraine,  38  of  silex,  3  of  potash,  and 
2  of  oxide  of  iron. 

This  mineral  is,  on  the  one  hand,  considered  by  some 
to  be  a  variety  of  felspar,  which  is  very  fusible  ;  but 
the  Andalusite  is  infusible  :  on  the  other  hand,  k  is  con- 
sidered by  others,  probably  from  its  hardness,  as  allied 
to  Corundum. 

The  Andalusite  belongs  to  primitive  countries.  It 
occurs  in  a  vein  of  felspar  traversing  granite  in  Forez  in 
France  :  also  in  granite  in  Castelle  in  Spain  ;  in  Aber- 
deenshire  in  Scotland ;  and  in  Dartmoor  in  Devonshire : 
k  has  also  been  found  in  Douee  Mountain,  in  the  county 
of  Wicklow,  and  at  Kiliiney  in  the  county  of  Dublin,  in 
Ireland. 

BLUE  FELSPAR. 

This  mineral  is  by  some  considered  to  be  a  variety  of 
Felspar,  from  which  it  differs  in  respect  of  colour  and  of 
composition  ;  also,  it  is  less  fusible  and  somewhat  harder. 
In  most  of  these  respects  it  likewise  differs  from  the  An- 
dalusite, of  which  il  has  also  been  considered  as  a  varie- 
ty. It  occurs  massive ;  its  colour  is  pale  blue  or  sky- 
blue  ;  it  has  a  lamellar  structure,  being  divisable,  though 
with  difficulty,  into  rectangular  prisms ;  and  it  is  not 
quite  so  hard  as  quartz.  Its  specific  gravity  is  3.06  ; 
and  it  is  composed  of  71  of  alumine,  14  of  silex,  3  of 
magnesia,  3  of  lime,  0.25  of  potash,  0.75  of  oxide  of 
iron,  and  5  of  water. 

Hitherto  it  has  only  been  found  at  Krieglach  in  Styris, 
forming  part  of  a  rock,  consisting  likewise  of  quartz,  and 
mica,  or  talc* 


TO    MINERALOGY.  S3 


WAVELL1TE. 

This  mineral  is  most  commonly  to  be  observed  in 
small  fibres,  occasionally  in  six-sided  prisms,  diverging 
from  a  common  center ;  it  is  said  also  to  have  occurred 
in  small  octohedrons  either  perfect,  or  having  the  apices 
replaced.  The  VVavellite,  when  fibrous,  has  a  silky 
lustre  ;  when  crystallized,  a  vitreous  lustre  ;  it  is  tran- 
slucent :  its  colour  is  various  ;  white,  or  greyish,  green- 
ish or  bluish-white  :  it  is  harder  than  calcareous  spar  ; 
its  specific  gravity  is  about  2.4 ;  that  from  Barnstaple  is 
composed  of  71.3  of  alumine,  0.5  of  oxide  of  iron,  and 
28  of  acidulous  water,  which,  as  it  corrodes  glass,  by 
the  application  of  heat  is  supposed  to  contain  a  slight 
portion  of  fluoric  acid  :  from  its  being  chiefly  composed 
of  water  and  argil,  it  is  sometimes  termed  the  Hydrar- 
gillite. — The  Wavellite  of  Brazil  contains  about  4  per 
cent,  of  silex. 

It  was  first  discovered  by  Ur.  Wavel  in  small  veins 
and  in  cavities  of  a  tender  argillaceous  schistus,  near 
Barnstaple  in  Devonshire ;  it  has  been  since  found  at 
Steiana  Gwyn,  in  Cornwall  :  on  a  specimen  in  my  pos- 
session from  the  latter  place,  of  which  the  gangue  is 
quartz,  VVavellite  is  accompanied  by  small  crystals  of 
Uranium  of  a  bright  yellow  colour  :  it  has  also  been 
found  near  Cork  in  Ireland  ;  and  has  been  brought  from 
Brazil  by  M.  Mawe,  in  the  form  of  stalactites. 

TOPAZ. 

The  Topaz  is  found  only  crystallized  :  its  general 
form  is  prismatic,  and  it  is  variously  and  dissimilarly  ter- 
minated :  the  prism  is  usually  striated  longitudinally, 
and  modified.  It  is  sometimes  limpid,  and  nearly  tran- 
sparent, or  of  shades  of  yellow,  green,  lilac,  and  red, 
and  translucent.  It  mostly  becomes  electric  by  beat, 
with  polarity  ;  it  exhibits  a  double  refraction  :  its  speci- 
fic gravity  is  3.5  ;  the  white  Brazilian  topaz  consists  of 
50  per  cent,  of  alumine,  29  of  silex,  and  19  of  fluoric 
aeid :  those  of  a  yellow  colour  occasionally  yield  a  small 


84  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

portion  of  oxide  of  iron.      The  topaz  of  Saxony  con- 
sists of  moje  silex  and  alumine,  and  less  fluoric  acid. 

The  pale  greenish  and  almost  transparent  topaz  of 
Siberia  becomes  electric  by  being  heated,  not  by  being 
rubbed  :  the  Saxon  Topazes,  of  a  pale  yellow  colour, 
become  electric  by  friction,  not  by  heat ;  but  lose  their 
colour  by  being  subjected  to  fire  ;  the  deep  yellow  To- 
pazes of  Brazil,  become  electric  by  heat,  and  red  by 
being  placed  in  the  fire.  Haiiy  now  considers  the  pri- 
mitive crystal  of  the  Topaz  to  be  a  rectangular  octohe- 
dron  of  82.°  2'  and  J22.°  42';  but  these  admeasure- 
ments are  not  corroborated  by  the  reflecting  goniome- 
ter. The  crystals  in  my  possession  exhibit  37  varieties 
of  form  :  many  of  them  are  from  Cornwall 

The  Topaz  is  found  almost  exclusively  in  primitive 
countries  of  the  oldest  formation  ;  chiefly  in  tin  veins 
traversing  granite  ;  in  which  it  is  sometimes  found  im- 
bedded. 

It  occurs  in  the  tin  veins  of  Schlackenwald  in  Bohe- 
mia, and  occasionally  in  those  of  Cornwall,  accompany- 
ing tin,  fluate  of  lime,  and  mispickel.  The  Topazes  of 
Cornwall  are  mostly  small,  colourless,  sometimes  tran- 
parent,  sometimes  opake  and  nearly  milk  white  :  they 
occur  in  the  mines  in  St.  Agnes,  and  in  veins  in  the  gra- 
nite of  St.  Michael's  mount,  and  are  frequently  accom- 
panied by  phosphate  of  lime  and  quartz.  In  the  valley 
of  Danneberg  in  Saxony,  the  Topaz  is  imbedded  in  a 
rock  together  with  quartz,  black  schorl,  mica,  and  litho- 
marga,  forming  an  aggregate  which  has  obtained  the 
name  of  the  Topaz  Rock.  In  the  Uralian  mountains, 
Topazes  are  found  in  graphic  granite  :  in  Brazil,  they 
occur  imbedded  in  an  argillaceous  earth,  resulting,  as  it 
is  believed,  from  the  decomposition  of  primitive  rocks. 

Pyrophysalite  is  considered  to  be  a  variety  of  the  To- 
paz ;  it  is  of  a  greenish  white  colour,  and  not  quite  so 
hard  as  quartz  ;  by  heat  it  gives  out  a  greenish  phospho- 
ric light.  It  is  found  at  Fahlun  in  Sweden  in  round 
masses,  in  a  granite  composed  of  white  quartz,  of  fel- 
spar, and  silvery  white  mica  ;  from  which  these  masses 
are  separated  by  talc  of  a  greenish  yellow  colour  :  it  is 
composed  of  about  54?  alumine,  34  silex,  and  10  fluoric 
acid. 

:--•- 


TO  MINERALOGY.  85 


PYCNITE,    OR  SCHORLACEOUS  BERYL, 

The  Pycnite  is  only  found  in  six-sided  prisms  which 
are  deeply  striated  longitudinally,  and  are  composed  of 
minute  parallel  prisms,  to  which  the  longitudinal  striae 
may  be  owing.  It  is  usually  of  a  dull  yellowish  or  red- 
dish white  colour,  and  translucent ;  it  may  be  readily 
broken  across  the  prism  :  it  scratches  quartz  :  its  speci- 
fic gravity  is  3.5  ;  and  it  is  composed,  according  to  Van* 
quelin,  of  60  per  cent,  of  alumine,  30  of  silex,  2  of  lime, 
6  of  fluoric  acid,  and  1  water. 

It  is  found  entering  into  the  composition  of  a  rock, 
chiefly  consisting  of  quartz  and  mica,  at  Altenberg  in 
Saxony  :  it  is  said  also  to  have  been  met  with  in  Bava- 
ria. 

SPINELLE  RUBY. 

The  Spinelle  Ruby  is  usually  found  crystallized, 
cither  in  the  form  of  its  primitive,  the  regular  octohe- 
dron,  or  its  variety,  an  acute  rhomboid,  or  having  the 
edges  of  the  octohedron  replaced  ;  and  occasionally  in 
macles  presenting  alternate  re-entering  angles.  It  is  of 
various  shades  of  red,  violet,  or  yellow ;  more  rarely 
black.  It  scratches  quartz  easily,  but  is  not  so  hard  as 
oriental  ruby,  from  which  it  is  readily  distinguished  both 
by  its  colour  and  crystallization.  It  is  infusible  :  its  spa* 
cific  gravity  is  3.7  ;  and  it  consists  of  84.47  alumine, 
8.78  magnesia,  6.18  of  chromic  acid  ;  to  the  latter  its 
colour  is  supposed  to  be  owing. 

Like  the  greater  number  of  the  gems,  the  geological 
situation  of  the  Spinelle  Ruby  is  not  accurately  known. 

It  sometimes  occurs  with  saphires  and  oriental  rubies 
in  the  sand  of  rivers:  it  is  found  in  the  sand  of  the  rivers 
f>f  Ceylon.  It  has  been  met  with  in  India  in  a  lamellar 
carbonate  of  lime,  enclosing  red  mica,  sulphuret  of  iron, 
and  phosphated  lime  ;  also  in  a  substance  greatly  resem- 
bling adularia. 

The  scarlet  coloured  is  properly  termed  the  Spinelle 
Ruby :  the  rose  red,  the  Balas  Ruby :  the  yellow,  or 

H 


98  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

orange  red,  the  Rubicelle ;  the  violet  coloured,   the 
Almandine  Ruby. 

The  pleonaste  and  automalite  are  usually  considered 
to  be  varieties  of  the  Spinelle  Ruby,  but  they  differ 
essentially  in  respect  of  composition. 

SUBSULPHATE   OF   ALUMINE. 

This  mineral  has  been  found  in  two  places :  it  is  said 
to  have  occurred  in  others. 

It  was  first  discovered  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Halle 
in  Saxony,  in  small  masses,  immediately  under  the  soil, 
accompanied  by  foliated  gypsum  and  selenite.  These 
aaasses  are  snow  white,  or  yellowish  white  and  opake. 
adhere  slightly  to  the  tongue  and  yield  to  the  nail ;  they 
are  very  meagre  to  the  touch,  light  and  infusible.  By 
the  aid  of  a  glass,  they  appear  to  consist  of  a  multitude 
of  transparent,  prismatic  crystals. 

This  mineral  has  by  some  mineralogists  been  con- 
sidered as  an  artificial  production :  a  suspicion  arising 
from  the  proximity  of  the  place  at  which  it  is  discovered 
to  the  college  of  Halle.  Jameson  is  of  opinion  that  its 
form  is  a  sufficient  proof  of  its  being  a  natural  production 
and  adds  that  there  is  no  laboratory  nearer  to  the  spot 
where  it  is  found,  than  a  quarter  of  a  league. 

The  Subsulphate  of  Alumine  has  been  since  discovo 
red  by  M.  Webster  in  small  masses,  of  a  snow  white  colour 
and  opake,  lying  upon  the  chalk,  and  filling  up  a  hollow 
in  it,  at  Newhaven  in  Sussex ;  it  has  very  much  the 
same  characters  as  that  found  at  Halle  ;  but  is  considered 
to  be  purer. 

ALUM.* 

ALUM  (of  La  Tolfa)  consists  of  49  per  cent,  of 
sulphate  of  alumine,  7  of  sulphate  of  potash,  and  44  of 
water;  and  is  therefore  improperly  termed  Sulphate 

*  Alum.  Native  Alum  has  been  found  in  various  places  in  the  United 
State*.  It  fometimes  appears  to  follow  the  deconipofition  of  pyrites,  and 
at  others  to  be  formed  without.  Occafionally  fmall  quantities  are  gathered 
j»  a  falme  (bee,  after  the  evaporation  of  the  water  in  dry  weather. 


TO  MINEKALOGY; 

of  JHumine.     It  crystallizes  artificially  in  the  regular 
octohedron. 

It  seems  scarcely  decided  whether  Alum  is  or  is  not  a 
natural  production,  in  so  singular  a  manner  is  it  enveloped 
in  the  mineral  substances  which  contain  it,  or  from  which 
it  is  procured,  or  produced.  From  several  of  these  it  is 
procured  merely  by  their  exposure  to  the  operation  of 
the  atmosphere  upon  them  ;  thus  far,  therefore,  it  may 
be  esteemed  a  natural  production  ;  and  as  it  is  largely 
met  with  in  certain  volcanic  countries,  it  has  an  equal 
claim  with  many  other  substances  to  be  considered  as  a 
mineral. 

Alum  is  found  in,  or  procured  from,  at  least  three 
earthy  substances  of  somewhat  different  external  charac- 
ters, which  are  described  as  alum  earth,  alum  stone,  and 
alum  slate. 

Alum  Earth  is  of  a  brownish  black  colour,  occasionally 
with  a  glimmering  lustre,  owing  to  the  intermixture  of 
mica ;  its  fracture  is  earthy,  somewhat  inclining  to  slaty  5 
and  it  is  light,  soft,  and  friable.  It  occurs,  frequently, 
in  beds  of  great  magnitude,  in  alluvial  land,  and  some- 
times in  the  floetz-trap  formation ;  and  is  met  with  ia 
Bohemia,  Saxony,  Austria,  Naples,  Hungary,  and  in  the 
Vivarais  in  France. 

Alum  is  procured  by  lixiviation  from  alum  earth, 
which  seems  to  be  considerably  bituminous,  and  has  a 
strong  resemblance  to  bituminized  wood  ;  when  left 
exposed  to  a  moist  atmosphere,  it  becomes  warm,  and 
at  length  takes  fire  :  occasionally,  it  is  used  as  fuel. 

Alum  stone  is  greyish,  or  yellowish  white,  of  various 
shades :  it  occurs  in  considerable  masses  which  are 
translucent  at  the  edges,  somewhat  hard  and  brittle ;  it 
adheres  slightly  to  the  tongue,  and  gives  out  an* 
argillaceous  odour  when  breathed  on. 

It  is  met  with  only  at  La  Tolfa,  in  the  states  of  the 
church,  in  Tuscany,  and  in  Upper  Hungary  :  at  La  Tolfa 
the  alum-stone  is  found  in  large  strata,  and  in  large  mas- 
ses, among  compact  iron-shot  argillaceous  limestone, 
and  is  mixed  with  lithomarga,  fluor,  and  calcareous 
spar  ;  and  penetrated  by  veins  of  quartz.  In  Hungary, 
pyrites,  native  sulphur,  and  quartz,  are  often  found  dis- 
persed through  it.  The  pure  Roman  Alum  is  prepared 
from  it. 


$8  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

Alum-slate  is  of  a  greyish,  bluish,  brownish,  or  iron- 
black  colour,  and  sometimes  irridescent  on  the  surface  : 
its  structure  is  slaty,  and  it  is  soft,  brittle,  and  has  a  mea- 
gre feel ;  by  exposure  to  weather,  it  falls  to  pieces,  and 
is  covered  by  an  efflorescence,  often  somewhat  bitumi- 
nous. By  one  analysis,  it  consists  of  alumine  44,  sulphu- 
ric acid  25,  silex  24,  potash  3,  water  4.  It  is  found  in 
round  masses,  in  beds  and  strata,  more  rarely  in  veins, 
in  the  newer  argillaceous  schistus,  and  also  in  transition 
mountains.  It  occurs  in  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Hungary, 
France  ;  also  in  the  valley  of  the  lead  hills  in  Scotland, 
in  the  mountains  near  Moffat,  and  in  the  transition  rocks 
of  the  south  of  Scotland.  At  Whitby,  in  Yorkshire. 
there  are  very  extensive  alum  works ;  but  the  nature 
of  the  earth  or  rock  from  which  the  Alum  is  procured, 
or  its  geological  situation,  has  not  been  accurately  des- 
cribed. 

Alum  can  only  be  procured  from  alum-slate  by  burn- 
ing it. 

Alum  is  rarely  found  massirc  ;  that  which  is  met  with 
in  the  island  of  Melo,  most  nearly  approaches  to  this 
character ;  if  taken  away,  it  shortly  appears  again, 
whence  it  is  supposed  to  be  merely  close  aggregations 
of  efflorescences.  The  mines  of  Melo  are  volcanic; 
there  are  also  other  volcanic  mines,  as  of  Latera,  near 
Bolsena,  in  Italy,  also  at  'Solfaterra  :  those  of  Tolfa, 
above-mentioned,  are  likewise  by  some  considered  to 
be  volcanic,  while  others  assert  that  the  beds  of  La 
Tolfa  may  be  traced  to  the  Apennines.  Mines  of  Alum, 
in  volcanic  countries,  are  situated  in  whitish  or  reddish 
friable  lavas. 

Alum  is  likewise  found  in  the  waters  of  a  few  springs 
as  of  those  of  Stikkenitz  in  Bohemia,  and  of  some  in 
Hungary. 


CRYOLITE. 

Of  this  rare  mineral,  which  has  only  been  brought 
from  Greenland,  the  Geological  history  is  not  known. 
It  occurs  massive,  white,  or  greyish  white,  and  occasion- 
ally brown,  from  an  admixture  of  iron,  and  may  be  frao 


TO  MINERALOGY,  89 

tared  into  rectangular  parallelepipeds  :  it  is  not  so  hard 
as  fluor  spar,  and  is  translucent ;  but  by  immersion  in 
*»yater,  it  becomes  transparent.  The  name  of  Cryolite 
was  given  on  account  of  its  easy  fusibility  ;  it  fuses,  and 
becomes  liquid  before  the  blow  pipe  :  and  even  in  the 
Oame  of  a  candle.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2.94  ;  and  it 
consists  of  21  of  alurfline,  32  of  soda,  and  47  of  fluoric 
acid  and  water. 


LIME. 

LIME  has  never  been  found  pure  ;  when  BO  prepared- 
by  the  chemist,  it  is  white,  moderately  hard,  of  a  hot 
acrid  taste,  and  infusible  except  by  voltaic  electrity. 

It  is  not  a  simple  or  elementary  body  ;  but  a  com- 
pound, consisting  of  oxygen  united  with  a  base  which 
possesses  the  colour  and  lustre  of  silver  ;  but  which  Sir 
H.  Davy  has  not  hitherto  been  able  to  examine  :  he 
considers  it  to  be  a  metal,  and  has  denominated  it  Co/- 
dum.  Berzelius  estimates  Lime  to  consist  of  about  28 
per  cent,  of  oxygen,  and  72  per  cent,  of  calcium* 

Lime  is  obtained-  artificially,  by  heating  the  various 
species  of  carbonates,  till  the  carbonic  acid  is  driven  off; 
hence  the  lime  obtained  for  cements  and  agricultural 
purposes.  For  nice  chemical  purposes,  it  is  procured 
in  a  purer  state,  by  subjecting  to  a  red  heat,  for  some 
iTours,  either  the  white  Carrara  statuary  marble,  er 
oyster  shells  ;  the  outer  coat  being  first  taken  off.  From 
the  former,  lime  is  obtained  which  is  mixed  only  with 
small  portions  of  silex,  and  sometimes  with  an  atom  of 
iron  ;  the  lime  procured  from  the  latter,  contains  only 
a  little  phosphate  of  lime.  These  impurities  are  after- 
wards got  rid  of,  by  chemical  processes. 

Lime  enters  into  the  composition  of  a  considerable 
number  of  earthy  or  stony  minerals,  but  is  not  found  in 
any  earthy  compound  in  the  proportion  of  50  per  cent 
except  when  mineralized  by  an  acid  ;  thus  combined, 
it  is  found  in  so  great  abundance,  that  some  geologists 
have  estimated  that  it  enters  into  the  composition  of 
£he  crust  of  the  globe,  in  the  proportion  of  one-eighftfc. 
t>f  the  whole.  -  H  21 


80          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

Lime,  and  its  natural  compounds,  generally  speaking 
are  of  infinite  importance  and  utility  ;  in  which  respecte 
they  are  inferior  to  no  other  mineral  substances,  but 
may,  on  the  contrary,  be  estimated  as  superior  to  all. 
^  Lime  is  found  mineralized  by  the  carbonic,  phospho- 
ric, fluoric,  sulphuric,  nitric,  boracic,  and  arsenic  acids  ^ 
forming  carbonate,  phosphate,  fluate,  sulphate,  nitrate, 
borate,  and  arseniate  of  Lime ;  these  compounds,  in 
common  with  all  other  natural  combinations  of  earths 
with  acids,  are,  by  some  mineralogists,  termed  Earth/ 


CARBONATE  OF  LIME. 

The  numerous   minerals  comprehended  under   the 
term  Carbonate  of  Lime,  differ  greatly  in  exterior  cha 
cacters.       Scarcely  more  can  be  said  of  them  in  the 
general,  than  that  they  all  readily  yield  to  the  knife,  and 
-^pat  their  specific  gravity  is  below  3.     Carbonate  oi* 
_^fnfi  occurs  crystallized,  fibrous,  foliated,  granular,  com- 
jpact,  and  earthy.      When  crystallized,   it   is    termed 
Ualeareous  Spar,   from  the  Latin,  calx,  lime;    when 
granular  or  compact,  limestone. 

Calcareous  Spar-  is  often  extremely  pure  carbonate  of 
time,  and  is  frequently  very  transparent,  when  it  is  strong- 

*  Rhombic  Calcareous  Spar  fills  the  veins  of  fchistic  rock,  at  Battenkir 
and  that  vicinity,  in  Waftungton  co.  N.  Y.  where  it  is  probably  primitive, 
f  Primitive  carbonate  of  lime  forms  a  ftratum  reaching  from  Sunderlanu 
tn  Vermont,  through  the  weftern  border  of  Maffachufetts,  almoft  to  Nev. 
¥ork  city.  Of  thefe,  the  magnificent  City  Hall,  in  New- York,  i3  built, 
from  fome  of  the  quarries,  or  rather  layers,  it  is  of  that  open  and  granu- 
lar conftitution  which  enables  it  to  be  bent,  making  thereby  elaftic  marble. 
There  is  a  flab  of  it  in  New- York,  about  6  feet  long  by  3  broad,  and  be* 
tween  a  and  3  inches  thick,  which  can  be  bent  to  a  meafurable  curve.— 
ft  may  be  fljafcen  backward  and  forward  at  the  middle,  while  the  two  «- 
ttemities  are  faft.  It  imbibes  water  readily ;  and  when  this  water  freezes, 
tfeeice  ftiffens  the  ftone,  and  impairs,  to  a  confiderable  degree,  its  elafticity^ 

The  Marble  of  Singfing  and  of  Weft-Farms,  in  Weftchefter  county,  h 
alto  a  primitive  rock,  and  is  mixed  with  fo  much  file*  that  it  is  hard  to  work 
and  to  polifh. 

The  Ifland  of  New- York,  near  Kingsbridge,  affords  a  compact  marble, 
«iat  is  now  employed  in  architecture.  It  is  white  and  granular,  and  fro 
quentlf  gives  fire  under  the  ftroke  of  the  hammer.  In  fome  places,  it  i* 
penetrated  by  brilliant  pyrites.  In  fome  fpots,  the  grains  are  as  large  as  the 
-particles  of  coarfc  fait,  and  they  fall  afunder  fponuneoufly,  or  with  the 
gentlcft  motion.  Some  of  die  ftrata  of  the  quarries  afford  excellent  quick 

The  extenfive  ftrata  of  Lime-ftone  beginning  in  Poughkeepfie,  and 
ipeuetrated  by  the  Hudfpn  at  Barnegat,  nerth  of  Newburgb,  afford  great 
fluanutica  of-  excellent  lime ;  and  may  be  ranked  as  of  tranfitioa  formation^ 


TO  MINERALOGY.  91 

}y  double  refractive.  Its  colours  are  very  various,  and  it 
is  found  crystallized  in  upwards  of  300  varieties  of  formr 
all  originating  from  an  obtuse  rhomboid  of  105°  5'  and 
74°  55'  ;  this  rhomboidal  may  be  readily  obtained  by 
cleavage  ;  and  the  brilliant  surfaces  of  the  fragments 
are  well  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  reflecting  goniometer. 
It  is  not  often  found  in  the  forra  of  its  primitive 
crystal,  which  nevertheless  has  been  met  with  in  several 
parts  of  England.  It  is  extremely  subject  to  that  species 
of  cr)7stallization  which  is  known  by  the  term  macle,  or, 
according  to  Haiiy,  heraitrope.  Calcareous  spar  is  not 

Secondary  Lim:stane  is  a  calcareous  carbonate  of  very  great  extent  in  the 
Fredonian  States.  It  occupies  great  fpace  in  the  vallies  extending  from 
north-east  to  fouth-west  from  New- York  to  Alabama  :  and  it  conftitutes 
vaft  and  wide  extended  layers  on  the  north-weft  of  the  great  dividing 
Ridges,  from  Canada  to  Louisiana.  It  is  fomethnes  excavated  in  caverns 
of  great  fize,  as  in  the  Helleberg  weft  of  Albany  ;  as  at  the  fouth  of  the 
Kaat&kill  near  Efopus  ;  a*  in  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  Virginia,  and 
above  all  near  the  green  river,  in  Kentucky.  Perhaps  this  lacter  is 'the 
rnoft  cxteniive  in  the  known  world.  It  is  figured  and  delcribed  in  Med. 
Repos.  Vol.  17.  p.  393. 

Stalactites  abound  in  thefe  fubterranean  recefics,  and  are  often  exceed- 
ingly large  and  beautiful. 

The  remains  of  marine  animals',  fuch  as  {bell-fiih,  or  teftaccous  mollua- 
cas,  abound  in  thefe  rocks,  proving  inconteftibly  the  former  dominion  o£ 
fait  water,  over  thefe  extenfive  regions  before  the  iincient  barriers  gave 
way  and  shrunk  the  ancient  fea  of  the  interior  to  the  comparatively  di* 
minutive  lakes.  On  the  fubfidence  of  the  fait  water,  the  land  to  a  greai 
extent,  was  laid  bare,  and  the  lakes  gradually  changed  to  frefh  water. 
The  facts  and  reafoning  in  favour  of  this  opinion,  too  long  for  infertion 
here,  may  be  feen  in  my  Memoir  on  the  Geology  of  North  America, 
published  at  New- York  in  1818. 

Many  beautiful  marbles  are  found  in  our  country.  The  quarries 
of  Bennington  and  its  vicinity  in^  Vermont  ;  of  Stockbridge  and  its 
neighbourhood  in  Maflachufetts ;  of  Kinglbrklge  and  its  contiguity  ia 
New  York  ;  of  Norriftown,  and  the  adjacent  region  in  Pennfylvania  ;  of 
1-Yedericktovvn  and  the  bordering  region  in  Pvlaryland  ;  and  of  Milfordin 
Connecticut ;  are  among  thofe  which  furnifh  marble  of  various  and 
elegant  qualities  for  the  architect. 

The  breccia  of  which  the  pillars  of  the  Capital  at  Wafiiington,  are 
now  preparing,  pofleffes  a  character  as  worthy  of  the  eye  of  the  minera- 
logiit,  as  of  the  connoiffeur.  It  is  an  aggregate  of  fmall  calcareous  water- 
worn  ftones,  of  ail  lhapes  and  colours,  conglutinated  by  a  calcareous  ce- 
ment into  a  rock  of  perfect  folidity.  From  thefe  maffive  layers  the  ma- 
terial is  broken  up  in  any  fhape  and  fize  that  is  required.  It  is  as  varie- 
gated and  elegant  as  any  breccia  that  Italy,  Sicily,  or  any  other  place 
affords. 

Some  of  the  Calcareous  Carbonates,  that  abound  in  fhells,  have  been 
worked  into  Lumacbella  Marble*.  The  variety  of  animal  rclicks  that, 
fome  of  them  contain,  is  very  remarkable,  as  in  that  found  at  Coeyman's 
Patent,  in  Albany  County.  JBat  few  or  none  of  tbxm  hith£rt 


cfcJ  ELEMESf-ABV 

Sp  hard  as  fluor  spar :  its  specific  gravity  is  2.7  :  it  con- 
sists of  57  per  cent,  of  lime,  and  43  of  carbonic  acid. 
That  of  Iceland,  which  is  considered  to  be  the  purest 
form  of  carbonate  of  lime,  is  transparent,  and  double 
refractive  in  a  high  degree.  It  is  familiarly  termed  Ice- 
land Spar,  or  Double  refracting  spar.  Some  varieties  of 
calcareous  spar,  especially  those  from  Derbyshire,  be- 
come phosphorescent  when  laid  on  a  hot  coal. 

It  occurs  in  veins  in  almost  every  kind  of  roek,  from 
the  oldest,  to  the  newest  alluvial  strata,  and  accom- 
panies, or  constitutes  the  gangue  of  a  great  variety  of 
minerals;  and  sometimes  it  appears  in  strata,  between 
the  beds  of  calcareous  mountains.  It  is  so  generally 
distributed,  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  give  a  list  of 
its  localities.  The  rarest  and  most  beautiful  crystals 
are  found  in  the  northern  parts  of  England  ;  from  which 
were  obtained  a  very  considerable  number  of  the  vast 
variety  described  by  the  Count  de  Bournon. 

Stalactitic  carbonated  lime,  the  Calc  singer  of  Jame- 
son, is  of  various  colours  :  the  most  common  of  which 
b  yellowish  white.  Stalactites  are  deposited  from  water 
loaded  with  particles  of  carbonated  lime,  in  the  hollow 
places  and  caverns  of  mountains :  the  water,  finding  its 
*vay  into  these  caverns  through  crevices  in  the  roof,  be- 
comes exposed  to  the  air;  evaporation  ensues,  causing 
particles  of  lime  to  precipitate.  These  stalactites  are 
sometimes  solid,  Laving  a  lamellar  structure ;  but  some- 
times are  of  a  fibrous  texture,  radiating  from  the  centra 
to  the  circumference,  as  may  be  observed  when  they  arc 

curious  and  Intcrcfting  as  they  are  to  the.  Geologift,  are  capable  of  the 
iplendid  polifli  which  fits  them  for  the  nice  purposes  of  building.  In  time, 
it  may  be  expected  that  fuch  will  be  found. 

Fetid  Lime  {lone  abounds  in  the  United  States*  It  conftitutes  very 
extensive  ifcrata.  The  falls  of  Niagara  roll  over  it.  Madrepores,  orthd 
cerites,  anomias,  oyfters  and  pectens,  are  frequently  found  in  it,  as  is  a 
Ifcrt  of  black  flint  or  hornftone. 

I  have  fpecimens  of  a  coarfe  chalk  from  the  neighbourhood  of  St.  Ste- 
phens, on  the  Tombigbee  River.  Bivalve  fhells  and  fca-nrchins,  of  feveral 
ipecies,  are  feen  in  their  ftajres  of  converfion  into  lime-ftone,  marie  and 
&alk. 

Calcareous  marie  is  formed  from  marine  fhells,  in  the  bays  and  coves  on 
the  fouth-fide  of  Long  Ifland ;    and  from  frefh-water  mollufcas  in  the 
Boles  and  poncfc  of  Orange  and  IMer  Counties,  adjacent  to  tile 
ork. 


TO    MINERALOGY.  93 

broken.  The  precise  mode  of  their  formation  does  not 
seem  to  be  understood ;  some  are  extremely  thin  tubes, 
which  has  caused  the  suspicion  that,  at  least  some  of 
those  which  are  solid,  are  filled  within  ;  some  increase 
externally,  and  are  covered  by  minute  crystals,  or  are 
terminated  in  a  manner  somewhat  resembling  a  mush- 
room. 

Stalactites  are  sometimes  of  prodigious  dimensions, 
and  very  numerous ;  of  which  the  grotto  of  Antiparos, 
inlhe  Archipelago  ;  the  Woodman's  Cave,  in  the  Hartz  j 
the  Cavern  of  Castleton,  and  other  caverns  in  Derby- 
shire, and  that  of  Auxelle  in  France,  are  remarkable 
instances. 

Some  caverns  have  been  entirely  filled  with  calcareous 
Stalactite,  so  that  it  is  occasionally  obtained  in  large 
masses  ;  in  this  state  it  is  called  Oriental  Alabaster,  and 
is  much  used  in  statuary  and  in  the  formation  of  vases  :  it 
was  greatly  employed  by  the  ancients.  That  which  was 
brought  from  the  mountains  of  Thebais,  situated  in 
Egypt,  between  the  Nile  and  the  Red  Sea,  from  near 
a  village  called  Alabastron,  was  much  prized  :  a  nearly 
collossal  figure  of  an  Egyptian  idol,  formed  of  this  ala- 
baster, was  in  the  museum  (ci-devant  Napoleon)  at 
Paris. 

Stalactites  are  not  always  very  pendulous;  sometimes 
they  are  of  a  botryoidal  form.  The  flat  or  tabular  por- 
tions formed  on  the  floors  of  caverns,  by  deposition 
from  the  water  dropping  from  the  roof,  are  called  Sta- 
lagmites. 

Fibrous  Carbonate  of  lime,  familiarly,  from  its  cha- 
toyant lustre,  termed  Satin  Spar,  is  composed  of  fine 
parallel  fibres.  It  occurs  near  Alston- rnoor,  in  the  north 
of  England,  in  strata  from  one  to  four  inches  thick,  ac- 
companied by  veins  of  pyrites,  in  a  brown  schist.  It 
is  susceptible  of  a  fine  polish,  and  is  employed  in  inlay- 
ing, and  in  the  manufacture  of  necklaces  in  imitation  of 
pearl.  Fibrous  carbonate  of  lime  is  also  found  at  Ber- 
gere  in  France. 

Schiefer  Spar,  the  Slate  spar  of  Jameson,  occurs  mas- 
sive, having  a  straight,  or  undulated  foliated  structure ; 
it  is  white,  with  a  remarkably  pearly  lustre,  and  trans- 
lucent. 


&i  ELEMEJSTABY    INTRODUCTION 

It  is  considered  to  belong  to  primitive  countries.  Pt 
is  generally  found  in  chlorite,  with  sulphutre  of  zine 
and  of  lead.  It  occurs  hi  the  Vosges,  near  St.  Marie 
aux  Mines ;  at  Bermsgriin,  near  Schwartzenberg  in  Sax- 
ony ;  at  Kongsberg  in  Norway,  &c.  It  was  also  found 
in  a  tin  vein  traversing  argillaceous  schistus  in  Polgooth 
mine  in  Cornwall,  accompanied  by  tin  and  chlorite ; 
sometimes  it  passed  into  lamellar  and  nearly  transparent 
carbonate  of  lime. 

*%pkrite.  This  mineral  is  only  found  in  a  friable  state,, 
and  consists  of  white  scales  of  a  shining  pearly  lustre, 
and  very  soft  to  the  touch.  It  is  termed  by  Werner, 
Schaumerde  (Earth-foam)  and  is  by  him  considered  to 
be  nearly  allied  to  Schieffer  spar :  it  is  usually  found  in 
calcareous  rocks. 

It  occurs  at  Gera  in  Misnia,  and  more  abundantly  at 
Eisleben  in  Thuringia,  in  mountains  consisting  of  strati- 
form limestone. 

Agaric  Mineral  is  of  a  white  colour,  or  yellowish  or 
greyish  white ;  and  is  soft,  very  tender,  opake,  and  is 
so  light  as  to  float  for  a  short  time  on  water.  It  is  con- 
sidered to  be  nearly  pure  carbonate  of  lime.  It  is  found 
in  the  beds  and  crevices  of  calcareous  rocks  in  Switzer- 
land, where  it  is  employed  to  whiten  houses.  It  is  also 
found  near  Ratisbon ;  likewise  at  Sunderland  in  the 
county  of  Durham. 

Granular  Limestone  is  massive,  and  composed  of  small 
grains  which  are  of  a  lamellar  texture  and  brilliant  lustre  ; 
but  as  these  grains  intersect  each  other  in  every  direc- 
tion, the  lustre  of  the  mass  is  only  glimmering.  It  is  of 
various  colours ;  the  whitest  and  most  esteemed,  from  its 
resemblance  to  sugar,  has  been  termed  by  the  French 
mineralogists,  chaux  carbonatee  saccbaro'i'de ;  but  it 
has  more  generally,  from  its  important  uses  in  the  arts, 
obtained  the  name  of  Statuary  Marble.  Granular  lime-  • 
stone  is  also  called  Primitive  Limestone  ;  the  largest 
grained  is  generally  esteemed  to  be  of  the  oldest  for- 
mation. Its  colour  varies  from  white,  through  various* 
shades  of  yellow,  green,  grey,  blue,  red,  almost  to 
black  ;  and  it  is  sometimes  clouded,  spotted,  or  veined  :: 
it  is  translucent  at  the  edges,  and  is  very  brittle.  It  ne- 
ver encloses  the  remaios  of  organized  bodies,  but  fre-i 


TO   MINERALOGY.  95 

cment]y  contains  certain  other  substances  dispersed 
through  its  masses  ;  as  quartz,  garnets,  mica,  hornblende, 
talc,  actinolite,  asbestus,  sulphuret  of  zinc  and  of  lead, 
magnetic  iron,  &c. 

Granular  limestone  is  found  in  many,  if  not  most  pri 
rnitive  countries ;  it  sometimes  forms  entire  mountains, 
but  more  often  occurs  in  beds.  It  is  considered  to  be 
of  contemporaneous  formation  with  gneiss,  porphyry, 
argillaceous  and  micaceous  schistus,  with  which  it  fre- 
quently alternates.  In  the  Alps,  and  especially  the  Py- 
renees, examples  of  this  are  of  frequent  occurrence. 
In  the  peak,  on  the  south  of  Bagnere,  in  the  Pyrenees, 
vertical  beds  of  granular  limestone  alternate  \vith  beds 
of  granite. 

The  most  celebrated  statuary  marble  was  found  in  the 
island  of  Paros,  thence  termed  Parian  marble ;  the 
marbles  of  Naxos  and  Tenos,  were  also  called  by  the 
same  name,  being  both  almost  equally  valuable  for  the 
purposes  of  the  statuary  ;  the  quarries  of  those  islands 
are  said  to  be  quite  exhausted.  Parian  marble  is  white, 
large  grained,  and  considerably  translucent ;  it  was  call- 
ed by  the  ancients  Lichnites.  The  celebrated  statues  of 
the  Venus  de  Medicis,  of  the  Venus  Capitolini,  of 
the  Pallas  de  Velletri,  and  many  others,  are  of  this 
marble.  The  statutary  marble  called  by  the  ancients 
Marmor  Pentilicus,  was  taken  from  quarries  on  a  moun- 
tain called  Pentelicus,  near  Athens  :  it  is  traversed  by 
greenish  or  greyish  veins,  which  are  commonly  micace- 
ous. Of  this  marble,  the  head  of  Alexander,  the  Indian 
Bacchus,  the  statue  of  Esculapius,  the  head  of  Hippo- 
crates, &c.  were  made.  The  marble  of  Carrara  or  of 
Luni,  is  of  a  much  finer  grain,  and  closer  texture,  than 
the  foregoing ;  and  is  now  usually  employed  by  statua- 
ries :  the  quarries  of  this  marble  are  on  the  eastern  coast 
of  the  gulph  of  Genoa.  Among  many  other  celebrated 
statues  made  of  this  marble,  are  the  Antinous  of  the 
Capitol ;  a  colossal  bust  of  Jupiter,  &c. :  and  Dolomieu 
is  of  opinion  that  the  Apollo  Belvidere  is  of  Carrara 
marble,  but  the  marble- merchants  of  Rome  consider  it 
to  be  of  an  ancient  Greek  marble,  differing  from  any 
now  known.  Dr.  Clarke  remarks,  that  the  Carrara  mar- 
ble is  milk  white,  and  less  crystalline  than  the  Parian  ; 
that  the  Parian  is  whiter  and  tesa  crvstajized  than  the 


96  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

Naxian  ;  and  further,  that  while  the  works  executed  in 
the  Parian  marble  retain,  with  all  the  delicate  softness 
of  wax,  the  mild  lustre  of  their  original  polish,  those 
which  were  finished  in  the  Pentelican  marble  have  been 
decomposed  ;  and  sometimes  exhibit  a  surface  as  earthy 
and  as  rude  as  common  limestone,  owing  to  the  veins 
of  extraneous  substances  which  intersect  the  Pentelic 
quarries.  Statuary  marble  was  anciently  brought  also 
from  many  other  places  besides  those  abovementioned  : 
it  is  now  found  in  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Norway,  Sweden, 
England,  France,  &c. 

Of  marbles,  there  is  an  almost  endless  variety.  Those 
most  esteemed  for  ornamental  purposes,  as  for  chim- 
ney pieces,  &:c.  are  brought  from  Spain,  and  the  Pyre- 
nees, and  from  Italy.  The  environs  of  Verona  are 
quarried  in  every  direction.  Many  marbles  consist  al- 
most entirely  of  shells  ;  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  no  pre- 
cise account  is  to  be  found  of  the  many  beautiful  varie- 
ties abounding  in  almost  every  country.  Those  of  our 
own  country  are  scarcely  noticed  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  districts  in  which  they  occur,  although  many  varie- 
ties are  admirably  adapted  to  ornamental  purposes. 

In  Derbyshire  there  are  two  quarries  of  marble  of  a 
deep  uniform  black  colour  and  without  shells  ;  one  of 
them  is  situated  at  Hadderi,  the  other  at  Ashford,  and 
both  are  near  Hakeweli ;  the  former  belongs  to  the  duke 
of  Rutland,  the  latter  to  the  duke  of  Devonshire  ;  both 
the  marbles  are  largely  employed  for  the  purposes  of 
chimney  pieces  and  ornaments,  of  which  the,  manufac- 
tory is  carried  on  by  Brown  &z  Co.  at  Derby  ;  who  have 
fixed  up  in  their  ware-rooms  a  large  slab  to  be  used  as  a 
looking-glass;  of  so  high  a  polish  are  those  marbles  sus- 
ceptible. 

Near  the  Peak  in  Derbyshire,  a  marble  is  quarried, 
which  consists  almost  entirely  of  fossil  shells,  chiefly  of 
entrochi  ;  this  marble  is  used  for  chimney  pieces. 

At  Wetton,  near  Asbbourn,  in  the  same  county,  a 
beautiful  variety  of  marble  is  quarried,  which  is  of  a 
greyish  black  colour,  and  contains  a  vast  number  of  very 
minute  shells  of  a  whitish  colour,  giving  to  the  mass  very 
much  the  appearance  of  porphyry.  This  is  used  for  the 
f?ame  purposes  as  the  black  marbles  above  mentioned. 


TO  MINEEALOGT.  97 

Near  Kendall  in  Westmoreland  some  varieties  of 
'black  and  grey  marbles  are  quarried  ;  which  have  some 
resemblance  to  some  of  the  Derbyshire  marbles,  and 
are  employed  for  the  same  purposes. 

At  Babbicombe  in  Torbay,  in  Devonshire,  is  quar- 
ried one  of  the  most  beautiful  marbles  in  existence  ;  its 
colours  vary  from  a  light  brown  to  a  deep  red,  which 
are  finely  variegated.  This  marble  is  extensively  ma- 
nufactured into  chimney  pieces  in  the  west  of  England  ; 
an  attempt  was  lately  made  to  introduce  this  beautiful 
marble  in  London  ;  but  the  marble  not  being  foreign, 
it  failed  of  success. 

In  Durham,  Buckinghamshire,  and  other  counties  of 
England,  other  marbles  of  less  note  are  quarried. 

At  Kilkenny  in  Ireland,  a  marble  is  found  of  a  fine 
black,  enclosing  shells  of  a  whitish  colour,  which,  when 
the  marble  is  cut  and  polished,  exhibit  segments  of  cir- 
cles. This  marble  is  much  used  for  chimney  pieces  and 
ornaments. 

Two  or  three  varieties  of  marble  commonly  found  in 
mineralogical  collections,  deserve  a  slight  notice,  though 
somewhat  out  of  place. 

The  Verd  Antique  consists  of  carbonate  of  lime  im- 
bedded in  green  serpentine  :  its  geological  situation  is 
not  known. 

For  Ruin  marble,  see  Index. 

The  Lamachelli  marble  exhibits  beautiful  irridescent 
colours,  which  are  sometimes  prismatic  internally,  but 
more  commonly  of  various  shades  of  red  or  orange, 
whence  it  has  also  obtained  the  name  of  Fire  marble. — 
It  is  found  in  veins  at  Bleyberg  in  Carinthia.  Its  co- 
lours are  attributed  to  the  shells  of  a  variety  of  nautilus. 

The  Cottam  marble,  found  near  Bristol,  which  exhi- 
bits when  cut  and  polished,  the  appearance  of  a  land- 
scape, consists  of  carbonate  of  lime  mixed  with  a  large 
proportion  of  argillaceous  matter. 

Common,  or  Compact,  Limestone  is  in  great  degie« 
allied  to  marble  ;  it  is  fine  grained,  solid,  and  generally 
susceptible  of  a  polish,  which,  as  well  as  its  colour,  is 
duller  than  that  of  marble.  Its  fracture  is  earthy,  or 
flat  conchoidal  ;  more  rarely  splintery.  Its  colours  are 
various ;  yellowish-white,  grey,  brown,  reddish,  er  blu- 

I 


98  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

ish,  of  different  shades.  Two  or  more  of  these  colours 
often  occur  in  veins,  zones,  bands,  &tc.  :  it  frequently 
exhibits  appearances  of  arborizations.  It  is  translucent 
on  the  edges,  hard,  and  brittle.  Its  specific  gravity  is 
2.6.  Compact  limestone  usually  contains  small  and  va- 
riable proportions  of  silex,  alumine,  of  the  oxides  of 
iron  and  manganese,  and  sometimes  of  inflammable 
matter. 

Some  varieties  of  compact  limestone,  and  of  marble, 
properly  so  called,  or  granular  limestone,  are  not  often 
found  enclosing  organic  remains ;  these  are  therefore 
considered  to  be  of  early  formation.  Werner  considers 
marble  as  a  transition  rock,  compact  limestone,  as  a 
floetz  rock ;  their  age  is  characterized  by  the  fossils  they 
contain :  the  older  contain  ammonites,  belemnites,  gry- 
phites,  &c. ;  the  newer,  abundance  of  such  marine  shells 
as  are  now  found  in  the  sea,  and  the  remains  of  fish. — 
Both  these  rocks  are  found  in  thick  beds  parallel  with 
each  other,  though  rarely  horizontal ;  more  frequently, 
nearly  vertical.  They  are  found  together,  forming  a 
chain  of  stratified  mountains,  in  the  Pyrenees,  above 
10,000  feet  in  height.  The  summits  of  these  mountains 
are  rarely  pointed,  being  mostly  flat  and  of  considerable 
breadth,  with  very  steep  sides,  to  a  prodigious  height. 
These  appearances  are  remarkable  on  the  edge  of  the 
Alpine,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  Pyrenean  chain,  espe- 
cially near  Grenoble.  Compact  or  granular  limestone, 
encloses  beds  or  masses  of  red  oxide  of  iron,  of  sulphu- 
ret  of  mercury,  sulphuret  and  molybdate  of  lead,  manga- 
,nese,  oxide  and  sulphuret  of  zinc,  &c.  These  metals 
'are  also  found  in  veins  passing  through  these  rocks,  to* 
gether  with  lamellar  carbonate  of  lime,  iron  pyrites, 
malachite  copper,  &c.  Garnets  and  steatite  are  occa- 
sionally, though  rarely,  found  disseminated  in  these 
rocks.  Brongniart  mentions  having  seen  flint  imbedded 
in  compact  limestone,  near  Bakewell  in  Derbyshire.  % 

The  uses  of  compact  limestone  for  building,  paving. 
&c.  and  when  deprived  of  its  carbonic  acid,  for  cements 
and  the  purposes  of  agriculture,  are  well  known. 

The  houses  of  Paris  are  built  of  a  large  grained  and 
soft  calcareous  stone,  which  is  incapable  of  polish,  and 
is  of  a  dingy  white,  grey,  or  yellowish  white  colour*  It 


TO    MINERALOGY.  99 

is  found  in  immense  horizontal  beds,  forming  the  plains 
south  of  Paris.  It  is  a  very  impure  limestone,  and  fur- 
nishes, when  calcined,  a  very  bad  lime.  The  use  to 
which  it  is  put,  has  occasioned  its  receiving  the  familiar 
name  of  Pierre  «  b&tir.  Haiiy  describes  it  under  that  of 
Chaux  carbonate  grossiere.  Its  geological  situation  is 
between  chalk  and  gypsum  ;  it  is  above  the  chalk,  from 
which  it  is  separated  only  by  a  bluish  plastic  clay,  as 
may  be  seen  at  Meudon.  This  variety  is  said  to  be  al- 
most peculiar  to  France. 

Swinestone,  or  Stinkstone,  so  called  from  the  strong 
fetid  odour  given  out  when  scraped  or  rubbed,  is  found 
massive  and  compact,  and  of  various  shades  of  grey, 
brown,  and  black.  By  calcination  it  becomes  white, 
and  burns  into  quick  lime.  The  offensive  odour  which 
it  gives  out  when  scraped,  is  considered  to  be  owing  to 
its  including  sulphuretted  hydrogen  :  it  is  commonly  at- 
tributed to  bitumen,  which  does  not  seem  to  enter  into 
the  composition  of  Swinestone. 

The  harder  and  more  compact  varieties,  which  receive 
a  good  polish,  are  useu  IH  C:™™nfal  architecture, 

It  is  said  to  occur  forming  whole  mountains;  it  fs 
more  commonly  found  alternating  with  strata  of  gypsum, 
or  of  compact  limestone.  It  occurs  in  Germany,  France, 
and  most  other  countries  :  in  Shropshire  and  Northum- 
berland in  our  own  :  the  Cliffs  on  each  side  the  Avon 
at  Clifton  near  Bristol  are  in  part  or  wholly  composed 
of  it. 

Bituminous  Limestone  is  brown  or  black,  which  co- 
lours are  supposed  to  be  owing  to  the  bitumen  it  con- 
tains :  its  structure  is  sometimes  lamellar  ;  sometimes 
compact,  when  it  receives  a  good  polish  ;  when  rubbed 
or  heated  it  gives  out  an  unpleasant  bituminous  odour  ; 
by  the  continuation  of  heat,  it  loses  both  colour  and 
odour,  and  burns  into  quick  lime. 

It  belongs  to  secondary  countries,  and  is  sometimes 
found  in  coal  formations,  as  in  Galway  in  Ireland,  where 
it  is  employed  as  a  combustible.  In  Dalmatia  it  is  so 
bituminous  that  it  may  be  cut  like  soap,  and  is  employed 
in  the  construction  of  houses  ;  when  finished,  they  set 
fire  to  the  walls  j  the  bitumen  burns  out,  and  the  stone 


100  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

becomes  white  ;  the  roof  is  then  put  on,  and  the  house 
afterwards  completed. 

Oolite,  or  Roe-stone,  so  denominated  from  the  re- 
semblance between  the  little  round  masses  of  which  it  is 
composed,  and  the  roe  of  a  fish,  is  always  found  mas- 
sive, and  in  beds,  whose  geological  situation  is  between 
sandstone,  common  limestone,  and  gypsum.  The  glo- 
bular particles  are  sometimes  composed  of  concentric 
lamella>,  and  usually  adhere  by  means  of  a  calcareous 
cement.  The  Roe-stone  is  very  soft  when  first  quar- 
ried, but  hardens  by  exposure  to  the  air.  Its  colour  is 
whitish,  yellowish  white,  or  ash  grey,  depending,  as  it  is 
believed,  on  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  argillaceous 
matter  with  which  it  is  usually  combined.  It  is  a  very 
impure  carbonate  of  lime,  and  will  not  burn  into  quick- 
lime. 

The  houses  of  Bath  are  for  the  most  part  built  of  this 
mineral.  The  Ketton-stone,  and,  by  some,  the  Port- 
land-stone, is  considered  to  be  a  variety  of  Roe-stone. 
It  is  also  found  in  Sweden;  ?iv:tzcrhr.ii,  almnuanily  in 
Thuringia  in  Saxony,  and  near  Alengon  in  France. 

It  is  sometimes  used  as  a  marl  for  agricultural  purpo- 
ses. It  was  heretofore  supposed  actually  to  consist  ot* 
the  roes  of  fishes,  petrified  :  the  cause  of  its  singular  for- 
mation is  not  understood.  Daubenlon,  Saussure,  Spal- 
lanzani,  and  others,  suppose  it  to  have  originated  in 
small  grains  of  carbonated  lime,  which  received  addi- 
tional coatings  by  the  movement  of  the  waters  which 
contained  it. 

Pea-stone,  or  Pisolite,  differs  from  the  roe-stone  both 
in  colour  and  structure ;  it  is  generally  white,  and  is 
composed  of  round  or  spheroidal  masses,  from  the  size 
of  a  pea  to  that  of  a  hazel  nut?  imbedded  in  a  calca- 
reous cement :  these  masses  always  consist  of  concentric 
lamella?,  in  the  midst  of  which  is  uniformly  found  a  grain 
of  sand.  It  is  less  abundant  than  the  Roe-stone. 

The  waters  of  Carlsbad  in  Bohemia  issue  from  the 
beds  of  the  Pea  stone,  which  is  found  in  the  waters  of  the 
brooks  that  supply  the  baths  of  St.  Philip  in  Tuscany, 
which  suffer  a  whirling  motion  in  their  course.  It  also- 
occurs  in  Hungary,  and  at  Perscheesberg  in  Silesia, 


TO 


Madreporite  is  found  in  large,  detached,  roundish 
masses,  of  a  greyish  brown,  or  greyish  black  colour, 
and  opake  ;  which  are  composed  of  cylindrical,  prisma- 
tic, parallel,  or  diverging  concretions.  Its  name  was  gi- 
ven from  its  structure  and  appearance.  It  consists  of 
93  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  lirne,  together  with  small 
portions  of  carbonate  of  magnesia  and  of  iron,  carbon, 
and  siliceous  sand. 

It  occurs  in  detached  masses  in  the  valley  of  Rusbacb 
in  Saltzburgh.  Some  naturalists  have  supposed  it  to  be 
a  real  petrifaction,  which  has  been  doubted  by  others, 
who  are  of  opinion  that  its  internal  structure  does  not 
warrant  the  conclusion. 

Chalk  is  usually  white,  occasionally  greyish  or  yellow- 
ish  white;  it  has  an  earthy  fracture,  is  meagre  to  the 
touch,  and  adheres  to  the  tongue  ;  it  is  soft,  light,  and 
always  occurs  massive.  The  purest  consists  or  carbo- 
nate of  lime  and  water,  but  it  more  often  contains  va» 
riable  portions  of  alumine  or  silex. 

It  is  one  of  the  newer  secondary  rocks,  and  wherever 
found  is  alway  the  prevailing  substance,  forming  hills  of 
three  or  four  hundred  feet  in  elevation,  which  are  re- 
markable for  the  smooth  regularity  of  their  outline. 
Chalk  is  far  less  abundant  in  nature  than  compact  lime- 
stone. The  countries  in  which  it  is  principally  found, 
are  Poland,  France  and  England  ;  most  abundantly  in 
the  latter,  forming  long  continuous  hills,  in  the  direction 
nearly  of  east  and  west,  and  separated  by  ranges  of  sand' 
stone,  and  low  tracts  of  gravel  and  clay. 

Of  Chalk  there  are  two  formations,  the  upper  and  the 
lower;  the  latter  is  without  flints  ;  the  former,  whatever 
may  be  its  elevation,  is  characterized  by  containing  pa- 
rallel and  horizontal  layers  of  flints.  Chalk,  likewise, 
contains  abundance  of  the  remains  of  marine  organic 
oodles,  and  of  amphibious  and  land  animals. 

The  uses  of  Chalk  are  numerous  :  when  compact  it  is 
used  for  building  ;  it  furnishes  lime  for  cements  and  ma- 
nure; it  is  employed  in  the  polishing  of  metals  and  of 
glass;  by  mechanics,  as  a  marking  material,  and  as 
moulds  to  cast  metals  in  ;  by  chemists  and  starch-makers. 
to  dry  precipitates  on,  for  which  it  is  peculiarly  quali- 
fied by  the  facility  with  which  it  absorbs  water.  It  is 


10A.  'EJ.pIjp.£A£Y    INTRODUCTION 


the  while  of  distemper  painting,  and,  when  washed  and 
purified,  forms  the  substance  termed  whiting. 

Marl.  Of  this  substance  there  are  many  varieties  : 
some  of  them  effervesce  strongly  with  acids,  and  are 
employed  as  manures  :  they  vary  much  in  respect  of  co- 
lour, and  are  greyish  or  yellowish,  bluish  or  reddish. 
Marl,  in  the  general,  is  massive,  but  falls  to  pieces  by 
exposure  to  the  air,  when  it  becomes  plastic  in  water. 

Calcareous  marl,  of  an  earthy  texture,  occurs  in  bed? 
in  secondary  limestone,  and  often  contains  shells;  it  is 
found  in  most  calcareous  countries  ;  occasionally  in  coal 
formations.  It  is  sometimes  found  of  a  slaty  structure 
and  bituminous,  when  it  is  termed  Bituminous  Marl 
Slate,  or  Marlite  ;  which  occurs  in  beds  with  the  oldest 
flcetz  limestone,  intermixed  with  the  ores  of  copper  :  in 
Thuringia  extensive  works  are  employed  in  the  smelting 
of  the  copper  it  contains.  It  is  remarkable  that  a  large 
number  of  fish  of  the  same  species,  are  also  contained 
in  this  substance  in  regular  layers  ;  the  bodies  of  which 
are  carbonized,  or  are  converted  into  coal,  and  some- 
times their  scales  are  plated  with  copper  ore  ;  but  every 
fish  is  in  a  contorted  position,  as  though  it  had  undergone 
violent  death  by  a  sudden  irruption  or  deposition  of 
sulphureous  and  metallic  matter  :  accompanying  the  fish, 
are  found  petrified  plants,  which  appear  to  belong  to  the 
genus,  fucus. 

Tufa  is  the  most  impure,  the  most  irregular,  and  the 
most  porous  of  all  the  varieties  or  carbonate  of  lime.  It 
is  light,  cellular,  and  often  incrasts  other  substances. 
The  various  articles  which,  being  placed  in  certain 
springs,  or  waters,  in  Derbyshire,  become  covered  by 
an  earthy  substance,  and  which  thereby  acquire  the  ex- 
ternal appearance  of  petrifactions,  are  in  fact,  only  in- 
crusted  by  a  kind  of  Tufa.  It  is  sometimes  sufficiently 
massive  to  be  employed  as  a  building  stone. 

It  generally  occurs  in  alluvial  land,  and  is  found  both 
in  Essex  and  in  Derbyshire. 

ARRAGONITE. 

The  Arragonite,  so  called  from  its  having  been  first 
discovered  at  Arragon  in  Spain,  is  commonly  found  m 


TO  MINERALOGY.  103 

six-sided  crystals  of  a  greyish,  or  greenish  white,  and  of 
various  shades  of  brown ;  sometimes  of  a  brownish  red 
colour.  The  crystals,  however,  are  not  perfect  prisms; 
down  the  centre  of  each  lateral  plane,  there  generally 
runs  a  seam,  which  is  considered  to  be  owing  to  the  pe- 
culiar construction  of  the  crystal.  The  Count  de  Bour- 
non  considers  this  substance  as  a  hard  carbonate  of  lime ; 
it  readily  scratches  the  common  carbonate,  and  some- 
times glass ;  and  he  conceives  that  the  six-sided  prism 
of  the  Arragonite  is  derived  from  the  rhomboid,  which 
he  imagines  to  be  the  common  primitive  crystal,  of 
Arragonite  and  the  carbonate  of  lime  ;  but  he  shows 
that  the  six-sided  prisms  of  these  substances  cannot -be 
derived  in  the  same  manner  from  the  rhomboid,  because 
they  cannot  be  cleaved  in  the  same  directions.  Haiiy, 
on  the  contrary,  considers  the  primitive  form  of  the  crys- 
tal to  be  a  rectangular  octohedron.  The  Arragonite  is 
sometimes  seen  in  crystals,  which  appear  to  be  elon- 
gated octohedrons,  crossing  each  other  at  right  angle?. 

Like  the  common  carbonate  of  lime,  the  arragonite 
possesses  a  double  refractioii;  but  differs  from  it,  in  be- 
ing somewhat  heavier,  of  an  imperfect  lamellar  struc- 
ture, and  considerably  harder. 

These  circumstances  are  sufficient  to  render  the  ideiv 
tity  of  Arragonite  and  common  carbonate  of  lime  doubt- 
ful; nevertheless  Vauquelin,  Klaprotb,  Chenevix,  &c. 
have  not  discovered  any  difference  in  their  component 
elements  ;  but  Stromeyer  by  three  analyses  discovered 
from  2  to  3  per  cent,  of  strontain  involved  in  its  com- 
position. 

In  Arragon,  in  Spain,  it  occurs  disseminated  in  a  fer- 
ruginous clay,  accompanied  by  sulphate  of  lime :  at 
Leogang,  in  Salzburg,  in  an  argillaceous  or  a  quartoze 
rock,  accompanied  by  calcareous  spar,  yellow  copper* 
and  arsenical  pyrites.  It  has  also  been  found  in  the  caj 
vities  of  basalt  near  Glasgow.  The  greenish  varieties 
are  brought  from  Marienberg  in  Saxony,  and  Sterzing 
in  the  Tyrol.  It  is  also  met  with  at  Bastan  and  Cau- 
penne,  in  the  lower  Pyrenees. 

The  Arragonite  is  also  found  acicular ;  either  in  slen- 
der diverging,  or  in  parallel  fibres.  It  occurs  in  radiated 
masses,  terminated  by  crystals,  in  the  fissures  of  a  com- 


104          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

pact  basalt,  at  Vertaison,  in  the  department  of  Allier, 
in  France. 

The  substance  termed  Flos  Ferri,  because  it  was 
originally  found  in  mines  of  spathose  iron,  is  now  consi- 
dered to  be  a  variety  of  Arragonite  ;  though  for  what 
reason  it  is  difficult  to  say,  as  it  has  never  been  analyzed. 
It  is  usually  of  a  snow  while,  and  either  in^small  branches 
which  are  strait,  or  bending  in  various  directions,  having 
commonly  an  external  silky  lustre,  arising  probably  from 
the  crystalline  terminations  of  the  minute  fibres  of  which 
it  is  composed ;  these  fibres  radiate  from  the  centre, 
presenting,  when  the  substance  is  broken,  a  brilliant 
silky  lustre. 

The  finest  specimens  are  brought  from  the  mines  of 
Eisen-ertz  in  Stiria  :  it  occurs  also  at  Schemnitz,  at  St. 
Marie  aux  Mines,  and  in  the  mines  of  Baygorri  and 
Vicdessos  in  the  Pyrenees.  Small,  but  beautiful  spe- 
cimens have  also  been  brought  from  Dufton  in  West- 
moreland. 

B1TTERSPAH. 

Bitterspar  is  usually  found  in  crystals  in  the  form  of 
its  primitive  crystal,  the  rhomboid,  which  is  so  nearly 
allied  to  that  of  the  carbonate  of  lime,  that  it  was  con- 
sidered to  be  the  same,  until  Dr.  Wollaston  discovered 
the  difference  by  means  of  the  reflecting  goniometer. 
Its  angles  are  106°  15'  and  73e  45'.  The  colour  of  this 
mineral  is  yellow,  with  a  somewhat  pearly  lustre  ;  and  it 
is  harder  than  carbonate  of  lime,  is  semi-transparent, 
and  very  brittle.  That  from  the  Tyrol  consists  of  52 
carbonate  of  lime,  45  carbonate  of  magnesia,  and  3  of 
oxide  of  iron  and  of  manganese. 

It  is  commonly  imbedded  in  chlorite,  steatite,  or  ser- 
pentine ;  and  is  found  in  the  mountains  of  the  Tyrol 
and  of  Salzburg  ;  in  that  of  Taberg  in  Sweden,  and  on 
the  borders  of  Loch  Lomond  in  Scotland. 

A  variety  found  in  compressed  hexahedrons,  or  in 
small  masses  of  a  light  green  colour,  by  Dr.  Thompson, 
at  Miemo  in  Tuscany,  thence  called  the  Miemite,  occurs 
in  the  cavities  of  alasbaster.  It  consists  of  the  same 


TO  MINEB&IOGT.  103 

elements  as  the  former  variety,  in  about  the  same  pro- 
portions. 

A  variety  in  the  form  of  somewhat  oblique  tetrahedral 
prisms,  was  found  at  Gluckbrunn  in  the  territory  of  Go- 
tha.  The  proportions  of  the  component  elements  dif« 
fer  from  those  of  the  preceding  varieties. 

B&OWN  SPAR.    PEARL  SPAR. 

The  Brown  Spar  is  of  various  shades  of  grey,  brown  ; 
sometimes  reddish  brown.  It  occurs  crystallized  in  va- 
rieties of  the  rhomboid,  which,  as  its  primitive  crystal, 
differs  somewhat  from  that  of  the  carbonate  of  lime  oi' 
the  bitterspar,  as  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Wollaston-  by 
means  of  the  reflecting  goniometer.  Its  angles  are  107° 
and  73°.  The  fracture  of  massive  Brown  Spar  is  curved- 
foliated  ;  rarely  perfectly  lamellar  :  it  is  translucent  on 
the  edges  :  it  contains  a  very  variable  proportion  of  iron« 
Some  varieties  greatly  resemble  spathose  iron. 

It  is  commonly  found  in  veins,  accompanied  by 
quartz,  carbonate  and  fluate  of  lime,  lead,  zinc,  iron,, 
silver,  &c.  It  occurs  in  the  Pyrenees,  Saxony,  France, 
Sweden,  &c.  At  Ormes-head  in  Caernarvonshire,  it 
occurs  in  veins  with  copper  and  manganese,  and  very 
abundantly  in  mass. 

Pearl  Spar  is  white,  greyish  or  yellowish  white,  and 
occurs  in  rhomboids  usually  with  curvilinear  faces  ; 
sometimes  of  a  pearly  lustre  which  is  remarkably  bril- 
liant, from  which  it  obtained  its  name  :  it  occurs  in  near- 
ly the  same  places  and  under  the  same  circumstances, 
as  Brown  Spar  ;  and  is  abundant  in  some  of  the  mines 
of  the  north  of  England.  That  of  Sweden,  consists  of 
29.97  of  lime,  21.14  of  magnesia,  44.8  of  carbonic  acid, 
3.4  of  iron,  and  1.5  of  manganese. 

DOLOMITE. 

:  j    ' 

The  Dolomite  mostly  occurs  massive,  but  is  some- 
times of  a  slaty  texture  ;  it  consists  of  fine  grains,  which 
are  lamellar ;  the  mass  is  generally  white,  occasionally 
with  a  tinge  of  yellow  or  grey  ;  it  is  soft,  yields  to  the 
nail,  is  tFanslucent  on  the  edges,  and  when  struck,  most* 


106  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

••:.v..,      +$&'     ,.. 

}y  emits  a  phosphorescent  light,  which  is  visible  in  the 
dark.  It  greatly  resembles  primitive  limestone,  but  is 
much  softer.  That  of  the  Apennines  consists  of  59  car- 
bonate of  lime  and  40  carbonate  of  magnesia  ;  that  of 
St.  Gothard  contains  some  oxide  of  iron  and  of  man- 
ganese. 

It  occurs  only  in  primitive  mountains,  in  veins  or  beds, 
accompanied  by  iron,  zinc,  orpimont,  yellow  copper, 
mica,  £c.  To  the  intermixture  of  this  latter  substance 
in  Dolomite,  its  occasional  slaty  texture  is  owing.  It  is 
found  at  Mont  St.  Gothard  in  the  Alps  ;  and  at  Simplon 
in  the  valley  of  Ranter ;  and  in  large  veins  traversing 
granite  near  Varallo,  in  the  valley  of  Sesia  :  it  also  oc- 
curs in  Siberia. 


MAGNESIAN    LIMESTONE.* 

The  Magnesian  limestone  differs  from  common  lime- 
stone in  its  external  characters,  in  having  generally  a 
granular,  sandy  structure,  a  glimmering  or  glistening 
lustre,  and  in  being  of  a  yellowish  colour.  It  consists 
of  about  30  of  lime,  21  of  magnesia,  47  of  carbonic  acid, 
1  of  clay  and  oxide  of  iron. 

It  occurs  iij  strata  -at  Bredon  hill  near  Derby  ;  at 
Mallock  in  the  same  county.  A  great  range  of  hills  ex- 
tending from  Nottingham  to  Sunderland,  overlaying  the 
coal,  are  entirely  composed  of  it ;  it  forms  beds  in  the 
Mendip  hills  in  Somersetshire  ;  it  occurs  at  Ballyshan- 
non  in  Ireland,  and  at  Houth,  near  Dublin.  The  Min- 
ater  and  city  walls  of  York  are  built  of  magnesian  lime- 
stone ;  sometimes,  though  rarely,  it  contains  shells,  &c. 

The  lime  obtained  from  it  is  greatly  esteemed  for  ce- 
ments, being  less  subject  to  decay,  owing  to  its  absorb- 
ing less  carbonic  acid  from  the  atmosphere  than  the  lime 
of  common  limestone.  But  for  agricultural  purposes  it 
is  less  esteemed  ;  when  laid  on  particular  soils  it  tends 
rather  to  injure  than  to  improve  vegetation ;  which  is 
wholly  destroyed  when  the  quantity  is  large  :  this  effect 

*  Magnefian  Minerals  are  frequent  in  and  around  N^w-York.  There 
is  reafon  to  doubt  the  affcrtion  that  magnefia  renders  the  foil  barren. 
Was  this  the  fact,  New  York  ifland,  Staten  ifland  and  Hoboken  ought  to 
feel  the  bad  effects  of  it  j  which  does  not  appear  to  be  the  cafe. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  107 

is  owing  to  the  magnesia  it  contains.       An  immense 
tract  of  chalk  in  France  is  wholly  divested  of  vegeta- 
tion, owing  to  its  containing  about  11  per  cent,  of  mag-    ^ 
nesia. 

LIAS.       CALP.      ARGILLO-FEREUGINOUS    LIMESTONE. 

Argillo-ferruginous  Limestone  is  found  massive  in 
beds,  or  in  globular  and  spheroidal  masses,  traverses  by 
veins  of  calcareous  spar.  It  is  tougher  than  common 
Limestone,  and  is  of  a  bluish  black,  (blue  Lias)  or  grey- 
ish blue  colour  (white  Lias) ;  it  has  an  argillaceous  odour 
when  breathed  on,  and  when  burnt  is  of  a  buff  colour. 
Calp  is  composed  of  68  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  lime, 
18  of  silex,  7.5  of  alumine,  2  of  oxide  of  iron,  3  of  car- 
bon and  bitumen,  and  5  of  water. 

It  is  quarried  at  Leixlip  near  Dublin,  (Calp  of  Kir- 
wan)  and  occurs  in  beds  at  Abertlmw  in  Glamorgan- 
shire, whence  it  has  obtained  the  familiar  name  of  Mer- 
ihaw  Limestone.  The  name  of  Lias,  which  originally 
was  provincial,  has  of  late  been  much  adopted  by  mi- 
neralogists. The  blue  and  white  varieties  alternate 
with  each  other,  generally,  in  thin  beds.  The  Lias  en- 
closes ammonites  ,and  great  variety  of  sea  shells ;  and  is 
remarkable  for  containing  the  remains  of  crocodiles  at 
Lyme  in  Dorsetshire.  Its  geological  situation  is  under 
the  Oolite,  near  Bath,  and  above  the  red  marl,  as  in 
some  parts  of  Somersetshire.  It  occurs  in  spheroidal 
masses  in  the  blue  clay  of  the  Isle  of  Sheppey,  and  of 
Higbgate  Hill,  &c.  When  burnt,  it  forms  a  cement, 
which  has  the  property  of  setting  very  strongly  under 
water,  and  for  this  reason  was  used  in  constructing  the 
Edystone  Lighthouse. 

Lias  has  of  late  been  employed  in  a  manner  which 
merits  notice,  as  being  a  branch  of  the  curious  and  im- 
portant art  of  multiplying  copies  of  drawings  or  of  pen- 
manship. A  drawing  is  made  on  prepared  paper  with  a 
peculiar  ink.  A  slab  of  Lias,  perhaps  an  inch  thick,  is 
then  heated,  the  drawing  is  placed  upon  it,  and  both 
are  passed  through  a  rolling  press.  The  paper  is  after- 
wards wetted,  and  washed  from  off  the  stone ;  but  the 
ink,  being  of  a  gummy  or  glutinous  quality,  becomes  in 


K)8  ELEMENTAB*  INTRODUCTION 

part  abs&fbed  by  the  stone,  and  remains.  It  is  then 
ready  for  the  printer.  Previously  to  the  taking  of  each 
impression,  fresh  ink  is  added ;  but  the  stone  is  first 
wetted  with  a  sponge,  in  order  to  prevent  the  ink,  which 
is  said  considerably  to  resemble  printer's  ink,  and  to  be 
put  on  with  a  ball  similar  to  that  used  by  letter-press 
printers,  from  adhering  to  it :  the  consequence  is,  that 
it  adheres  only  to  the  ink  absorbed  by  the  stone  from 
the  paper  on  which  the  drawing  was  originally  made  : 
paper  is  then  placed  on  the  stone,  and  both  are  passed 
through  a  rolling  press  as  before.  This  art  has  been 
practiced  in  Germany  with  great  success,  though,  it  is 
said,  not  precisely  in  the  same  manner ;  the  practice 
there,  being,  to  make  the  drawing  upon  the  stone,  with 
a  prepared  ink,  whence  it  may  correctly  be  termed  the 
Lithographic  Art ;  the  Lias  of  that  country,  is  particu- 
larly adapted  to  it ;  some  beautiful  specimens  of  this 
art  may  be  seen  in  this  country.  It  is  also  said  that 
copies  of  military  drawings  and  orders  were  multiplied 
by  this  means,  to  a  very  large  amount,  at  the  head- 
quarters of  the  armies  lately  employed  on  the  continent. 
An  artificial  composition  is  sometimes  used  instead  of 
the  Lias. 

APATITE.       PHOSPHATE    OF   LIME. 

Apatite  is  both  harder  and  heavier  than  the  carbonate 
or  fluate  of  lime.  It  occurs  massive,  and  crystallized  in 
the  six-sided  prisms,  (which  is  the  form  of  primitive 
crystals),  variously  terminated.  The  crystals  in  my 
possession,  exhibit  27  varieties  of  form,  which  are  ex- 
tremely beautiful,  and  were  principally  brought  from 
Cornwall.  The  Apatite  is  white,  or  of  various  shade.-? 
of  green,  blue,  red,  or  yellow,  but  not  brilliant :  its  spe- 
cific gravity  is  about  3.  and  it  is  composed  of  53.73  of 
.Time,  and  46.25  of  phosphoric  acid. 

The  crystallized  is  chiefly  met  with  in  the  veins  of 
primitive  mountains,  especially  in  those  containing  tin  ; 
and  it  accompanies  quartz,  fluate  of  lime,  sulphate  of 

*  Apatite— Apatite  has  been  found  in  ftnatl  maflcs,  at  Greenwid^  City 
df  New  York.  ( 'Jones. ) 


TO  MINERALOGY.  109 

barytes,  felspar,  wolfram,  &c.  It  is  thus  found  in  the 
mines  of  Saxony  and  Bohemia.  It  occurs  in  St.  Go- 
thard  in  a  chlorite  rock,  with  adularia  and  mica :  at 
Stenna-Gwyn  in  Cornwall,  in  yellowish  or  greenish  talc : 
near  Nantes  in  France,  it  is  met  with  in  granite  :  and 
in  mount  St.  Michael  in  Cornwall,  in  the  fissures  of 
granite,  accompanied  by  oxide  of  tin  and  topazes. 

The  Apatite  is  commonly  phosphorescent  by  heat, 
and  it  was  remarkable  that  the  prisms  of  such  crystals 
as  are  not  phosphorescent  are  terminated  by  six-sided 
pyramids,  like  crystals  of  quartz,  but  are  less  acute ; 
the  others  are  terminated  by  planes ;  and  it  is  also  re- 
markable that  those  which  are  not  phosphorescent,  have 
only  been  found  in  volcanic  products :  in  those  of  Vesu- 
vius, they  accompany  the  idocrase ;  they  are  found  at 
Cap  de  Gate  in  Spain,  in  a  cellular  stone,  resembling 
lava.  These  crystals  were  heretofore  termed  Chryso- 
lites ;  they  are  of  an  orange  brown,  or  asparagus  green  j 
whence  they  are  sometimes  called  Asparagus-stone. 

Massive  phosphate  of  lime  is  of  a  granular,  fibrous,  or 
earthy  texture,  and  sometimes  encloses  a  small  portion 
of  carbonate  of  lime.  The  fibrous  variety  is  found  at 
Schlackenwald  in  Bohemia,  in  radiated  masses  in  tin 
veins  :  in  the  same  veins  also  occur  round  masses,  which 
are  granular,  sometimes  even  compact,  and  are  phos- 
phorescent by  heat.  Near  Truxillo  in  Spain,  this  latter 
variety  forms  entire  hills,  traversed  by  beds  of  quarts. 
It  consists  principally  of  lime  and  phosphoric  acid,  but 
also  contains  small  portions  of  fluoric  acid,  silex,  oxide 
of  iron,  and  water. 

FLUOB.    FLUATE  OF  LIME.* 

Fluor  is  found  both  massive  and  crystallized  ;  the  lat- 
ter has  a  perfectly  lamellar  structure,  and  may  be 
cleaved  with  great  ease  into  the.  form  of  the  regular  oc- 
tohedron,  which  is  that  of  the  primitive  crystal.  The 
crystals  are  found  passing  into  the  cube,  the  acute  rhoin- 

*  Piuatt  of  Lime.— Flnate  of  Lime  has  been  found  in  New-Hampfliire , 
Maflachufctts,  Vermont,  New- York,  New-Jerfey,  Maryland,  Virginia 
and  Mifiburi)  moftly  in  (mail  pieces,  fame  times  loofe>  and  fometimes  at- 

tailed 

K 


110         ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

boid,  the  dodecahedron  with  rhomboidal  planes,  and 
the  regular  tetrahedron  :  those,  in  my  possession,  exhi- 
bit 46  varieties  of  form,  which  are  extremely  interest- 
ing. The  colour  of  Fluor  varies  from  the  perfectly 
white  and  transparent,  through  various  shades  of  blue, 
green,  red,  yellow,  and  purple,  almost  to  black  :  when 
pounded,  and  thrown  on  a  live  coal,  Fluor  gives  out  a 
phosphoric  light ;  when  thrown,  in  mass,  into  the  fire,  it 
decrepitates  and  flies.  It  is  harder  than  calcareous  spar ; 
its  specific  gravity  is  about  3  ;  and  it  is  composed  of 
67.75  of  lime,  and  32.25  of  fluoric  acid,  according  to 
Klaproth  ; — a  variety  analyzed  by  Scheele  afforded  27 
per  cent,  of  water. 

The  varied  colours  of  Fluor  formerly  gave  rise  to  the 
now  exploded  names  of  false  sapphire,  false  emerald, 
false  amethyst,  false  ruby,  and  false  topaz. 

Crystallized  Fluor  is  found  at  Mont  Blanc  and  St. 
Gothard  ;  in  Saxony,  Germany,  and  in  many  other 
countries,  it  occurs  in  veins  in  primitive  mountains  ; 
and  accompanies  oxide  of  tin,  mica,  apatite,  and  quartz, 
in  Cornwall,  and  at  Zinnwald  in  Bohemia.  It  occurs  in 
argillaceous  schistus  in  Cumberland  and  Durham,  with 
iron  ore,  quartz,  calcareous  spar,  and  sulphate  of  bary- 
tes  :  in  Derbyshire  in  secondary  limestone,  with  the 
last-mentioned  substances,  together  with  clay  and  bitu- 
men :  in  limestone  with  galena  at  Beeralston  in  Devon- 
shire :  it  also  occurs  in  Aberdeenshire  and  in  Shetland. 

In  the  Odin  mine,  near  Castleton  in  Derbyshire. 
Fluor  is  found  in  veins,  in  detached  masses,  from  three 
inches  to  a  foot  in  thickness  ;  their  structure  is  diver- 
gent, and  their  colours,  as  grey,  yellow,  blue,  brown, 
are  generally  disposed  in  concentric  bands  :  of  this  va- 
riety, called  blue  John  by  the  miner,  are  made  beautiful 
vases,  obelisks,  &c.  by  Mawe  &  Co.  of  Derby.  Fluor 
is  no  where  else  found  adapted  to  these  purposes. 

Compact  Fluor  is  har»ler  than  common  Fluor,  and  is 
sometimes  of  a  granular  texture  ;  in  general,  it  is  tran- 
slucent only  on  the  edges  :  when  placed  on  a  live  coal, 
it  mostly  gives  out  a  green  light :  some  specimens  in  my 
possession  from  Pednandrae  mine  in  Cornwall,  exhibit 
lights  of  various  shades  of  green,  blue,  violet,  and  red 


TO  MINfiRALOOr.  Ill 

Chlorophane  is  esteemed  to  be  a  variety  of  compact 
fluor ;  of  which  it  has  not  perfectly  the  aspect.  It  is 
usually  of  a  pale  violet  colour,  and  translucent.  It  does 
not  fly  in  the  fire,  but  gives  out  a  phosphorescent  light  of 
a  most  beautiful  emerald  green  colour ;  a  specimen  in 
my  possession,  from  Pednandrae,  gives  out  this  light 
when  placed  in  the  flame  of  a  candle  ;  but  Pallas  men- 
tions a  specimen  from  Siberia,  of  a  pale  violet  colour, 
which  gave  a  white  light  merely  by  the  heat  of  the 
hand  ;  by  the  heat  of  boiling  water,  a  green  light ;  and 
when  placed  on  a  live  coal,  a  brilliant  emerald  light, 
that  might  be  discerned  from  a  long  distance. 

Fluzite  of  lime  is  commonly  found  in  veins  ;  some- 
times in  beds,  but  not  of  considerable  extent ;  it  never 
forms  mountains,  and  is  less  abundant  in  nature  than  sul- 
phate of  lime,  and  very  much  less  than  carbonate  of 
lime.  The  variety  termed  Chlorophane  only  has  been 
found  entering  into  their  composition  of  primitive  rocks  : 
it  occurs  in  granite  in  Siberia-  Fluate  of  lime  some- 
times fills  veins  almost  entirely. 

Fluate  of  lime  is  principally  used  in  the  reduction  of 
metalliferous  ores,  as  a  flux ;  whence  its  name.  The 
fluoric  acid  has  been  used  for  etching  on  glass,  in  the 
same  manner  as  nitric  acid  is  used  upon  copper.  From 
glass  plates  thus  engraved,  a  considerable  number  of  im- 
pressions have  sometimes  been  taken,  by  great  care. 

ANHYDROUS  GYPSUM. 

It  is  sometimes  found  in  eight-sided  prism?,  but  more 
often  massive  ;  it  is  lamellar,  and  may  be  cleaved  into 
the  form  of  a  right  rectangular  prism,  which  therefore 
is  the  primitive  form.  Its  colours  are  milk  white,  rose, 
violet,  or  bluish  :  it  is  serni-transparent,  with  a  double  re- 
fraction, and  is  harder  than  common  gypsum ;  it  scratches 
calcareous  spar.  When  pure  it  consists  of  40  per  cent,  of 
lime,  and  60  of  sulphuric  acid  ;  it  is  sometimes  called 
the  Anhydrite^  in  reference  to  its  being  without  water. 
Occasionally  it  yields  a  variable  proportion  of  muriate  of 
soda,  which  has  occasioned  its  obtaining  also  the  name 
Muriacite.  The  former  has  only  been  found  in  the  salt 
wines  of  Bex  in  the  Canton  of  Berne  in  Switzerland  ; 


M2  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

the  latter  only  in  those  of  Halle  in  the  Tyrol  ;  but  in 
fibrous,  or  globular  masses,  or  in  ramose  contortions 
(Pierres  de  trippes)  it  is  found  in  some  of  the  mines  of 
Saxony  and  of  Derbyshire. 

Anhydrous  gypsum,  affording  by  analysis  8  per  cent, 
of  silex,  and  having  the  compact  texture  of  certain  varie- 
ties of  marble,  is  found  at  Vulpino  in  Italy.  It  is  of  a 
greyish  white  colour,  with  bluish  grey  veins,  and  is  trans- 
lucent on  the  edges.  At  Milan  it  is  employed  for  ta- 
bles and  chimney-pieces,  under  the  name  of  Marbrc 
Bardiglio  di  Bergamo. 

GYPSUM.*    SELENITE.   SULPHATE  OF  LIME. 

This  mineral  is  found  crystallized,  fibrous,  massive* 
and  earthy.  The  crystallized  is  generally  called  Sele- 
nite ;  the  amorphous  and  earthy,  Gypsum  :  but  these 
terms  are  sometimes  used  indiscriminately.  The  pri- 
mitive form  of  its  crystals,  of  which  Hauy  has  noticed  5 
varieties,  is  a  rhomboidal  prism,  of  113°  8'  and  66°  52' 
terminated  by  oblique  angled  parallelograms,  into  which 

*  Gypsum*—  Gypfum  is  found  abundantly  in  the  counties  of  Madifon, 
Onondaga  and  Cayuga  in  New- York,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Sale 
Springs  of  Montezuma  and  Salina.  It  is  frequently  lamellar  or  tabular  ; 
very  tranfparent  and  beautiful  : — then  it  is  amorphous  and  maflive;  in 
other  places  it  is  almoft  black,  but  becomes  white  by  a  continued  red-heat. 
Sometimes  again  it  is  mixed  with  a  dark  argillaceous  fluff  refembling 
dried  mud. 

Fine  Gypfum  of  Onondaga,  was  found  on  analysis  to  contain  in  one 
hundred  grains,  ai  of  water,  34  of  lime  and  47  of  fulphuric  acid.  (War* 
den  in  Med.  Rep.  Vol.  13.  p.  77.) 

At  the  cataract  of  Niagara  gypfum  is  found  in  the  fetid  limeftone, 
evidently  produced  by  the  decompofition  of  pyrites.  Here  the  newh 
formed  Sulphuric  acid  combines  with  the  lime  and  difcharges  the  carbonic 
acid  and  hydrogene.— When  picked  up  at  the  foot  of  the  falls,  in  loof;. 
and  white  lumps,  it  has  been  called  "  petrified  foam." 

From  the  bay  of  Fundy  in  Nova-Scotia,  it  is  brought  to  us,  in  a  greaf 
variety  of  forms,  tabular,  massive,  in  ftellated  or  globular  cryftals,  &c.  I 
have  fpecimens  of  beautiful  fibrous  gypfum  from  Labrador. 

Ten-fided  cryftals  have  been  brought  me  from  the  State  of  Ohio,  when 
they  are  faid  to  lie  loofe  in  an  argillaceous  foil. 

JLoofe  pieces,  of  a  fine  quality,  though  fmall,  have  been  difcovered  in  St 
Mary's  county,  Maryland. 

The  employment  of  gypfum  as  a  manure,  has  been  and  continues  to  bt. 
a  practice  of  the  utmoft  moment  to  the  agriculture  and  produce  of  all  the 
interior  country.  It  has  not  been  found  as  yet,  to  anfwcr  fo  good  a  pur-» 
pofe  along  the  fea  coaft,  or  in  the  neighbourhood  of  fait- water. 


TO    MINERALOGY.  113 

the  crystals  may  with  care  be  reduced  by  fracture  ;  the 
natural  joints  are  very  visible  :  the  crystals  are  generally 
transparent,  with  a  shining  pearly  lustre  ;  and  are  of  va- 
rious shades  of  white,  yellow,  grey,  brown,  red,  or  violet 
colour  :  sulphate  of  lime  may  readily  be  distinguished* 
from  carbonate  of  lime  ;  it  is  much  softer,  and  yields 
easily  to  the  nail :  its  specific  gravity  is  about  2,  and  it 
is  composed  of  32.7  per  cent,  of  lime,  46.3  of  sulphuric; 
acid,  and  21  of  water. 

Crystallized  Selenite  is  found  at  Alston  in  Cumber- 
land, and  in  great  abundance  at  Shotover  bill  in  Oxford- 
shire. Selenite  is  most  commonly  met  with  dis- 
seminated in  argillaceous  deposites  ;  not  often  in  veins  : 
but  it  is  said  to  have  been  met  with  in  a  vein  of  yellow 
copper  ore,  traversing  a  primitive  mountain,  near  Nusol 
in  Hungary  :  in  a  lead  vein  in  Bohemia  ;  and  in  the  sil- 
ver mine  of  Seinenofske  in  the  middle  of  the  Altaic 
mountains  in  Siberia. 

It  occurs  in  remarkably  long  slender  fibres,  which  are 
generally  associated  and  curved  (Plumose  Gypsum)  ;  it 
is  found  in  Derbyshire,  and  in  some  of  the  mines  of  the 
Hartz  and  of  Hungary.  At  Matlock  in  Derbyshire, 
Gypsum  occurs  also  in  straight  fibres  of  great  brilliancy, 
of  which  the  cross  fracture  is  lamellar,  and  of  remarka- 
ble lustre. 

When  massive,  sulphate  of  lime  is  termed  alabaster, 
but  is  readily  distinguished  from  that  variety  of  carbo- 
nate of  lime  which  has  obtained  the  same  name ;  the 
former  yields  to  the  nail,  the  latter  does  not.  It  is  either 
granular  or  compact ;  the  granular  is  composed  of  little 
lamellar  masses,  intersecting  each  other  in  every  direc- 
tion ;  the  compact  has  a  lamellar  structure,  and  is  found 
in  the  form  of  stalactites,  at  Mont  Cenis,  and  other  pla- 
ces. 

Granular  massive  gypsum  is  found  overlaying  the  most 
decent  of  the  primitive  rocks,  and  sometjmes,  it  is  said, 
is  enclosed  by  them  :  its  colour  is  mostly  white  ;  and  it 
has  been  found  mingled  with  mica,  felspar,  and  serpen- 
tine, in  Siberia  ;  but  encloses  neither  argillaceous  mat- 
ter nor  organic  remains :  it  seems  therefore  to  have  some 
claim  for  being  considered  as  a  primitive  rock.  In  the 
Levantine  valley  near  St.  Gothard,  it  occurs  between 

K2 


114  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

two  beds  of  gneiss,  and  also  at  Bellinzina  in  the  Alps  : 
granular  gypsum  also  occurs  near  Mont  Cenis,  and  at 
Moutier  near  Mont  Blanc. 

Gypsum  is  also  found  accompanying  carbonate  of 
lime,  and  abundantly  overlaying  the  rock  salt  deposites: 
tt  covers  transition  rocks  in  Scotland. 

A  posterior  formation  of  gypsum,  for  there  appears  to 
be  at  least  three  formations,  is  found  in  horizontal  beds, 
and  is  more  intermingled  with  marl,  and  frequently  en- 
closes organic  remains  both  of  plants  and  animals,  some- 
times of  birds,  as  surrounding  Paris,  and  in  other  places 
in  France. 

Earthy  Gypsum  has  very  much  the  appearance  of 
chalk,  but  is  of  a  looser  texture.  It  occurs  near  Zella 
and  (Epitz  in  Saxony,  and  is  employed  as  a  manure. — 
It  is  constantly  deposited  by  water  in  the  crevices  of 
gypseous  mountains. 

It  also  occurs  in  efflorescences,  or  in  round  fibrous 
masses,  sometimes  in  stalactites,  in  the  lavas  of  the  Isle 
of  Bourbon,  and  of  Solfatera. 

Gypsum  is  diffused  through  the  water  of  almost  ever} 
spring,  to  which  it  gives  (in  common  with  other  earthy 
salts)  the  property  of  hardness,  as  it  is  usually  termed. 

Gypsum  sometimes  forms  hills.  It  abounds  in  Switzer- 
land, Italy,  the  Tyrol,  in  Bavaria,  Thuringia,  Poland. 
Spain;  and  in  Derbyshire,  Yorkshire,  and  Nottingham- 
shire in  England ;  and  in  Pennsylvania  in  North  Ame- 
rica. 

The  uses  of  Gypsum  are  very  extensive ;  the  variety 
called  alabaster  is  employed  by  the  architect,  for  columns 
and  other  ornaments,  being  more  easily  worked  than 
marble ;  it  is  also  turned  by  the  lathe  into  cups,  basins, 
vases  and  other  similar  articles.  The  manufacture  of 
these  articles  in  gypsum  is  carried  on  by  Brown  and  Co.  of 
Derby,  to  a  considerable  extent.  Alabaster  is  found 
in  the  neighbqurhood,  both  white,  and  with  veins  of 
a  reddish  brown  colour.  The  large  columns  employed 
in  the  building  of  the  elegant  mansion  called  Kedleston 
Hall  which  is  in  Derbyshire,  are  of  the  variegated 
alabaster  of  that  county.  When  sulphate  of  lime  o? 
gypsum,  is  subjected  to  a  certain  heat,  it  loses  what 
is  termed  its  water  of  crystallization;  and  is  converted 


TO  MINERALOGY.  115 

into  fine  powder  called  plaster  of  parts ;  the  uses  of  which, 
when  beaten  up  with  water  into  a  paste,  for  taking  casts 
of  gems  and  statues,  are  well  known.  In  some  coun- 
tries, especially  in  North  America,  it  is  largely  employ- 
ed as  a  manure. 


GLAUBERITE. 

This  singular  and  rare  mineral  has  only  been  found  at 
Ocagna,  in  New  Castile  in  Spain,  disseminated  in  rock 
salt.  It  occurs  crystallized,  in  the  form  of  an  oblique 
prism,  whose  alternate  angles  are  104°  30'  and  75°  30', 
and  whose  lateral  planes  are  transversely  striated,  but 
the  terminal  planes,  which  are  of  a  rhombic  form,  are 
smooth  and  brilliant ;  its  colour  is  reddish  yellow  or 
grey ;  it  is  transparent,  and  less  hard  than  calcareous 
spar,  but  harder  than  gypsum  :  its  spec,  gravity  is  2.7. 
and  it  is  composed  49  per  cent,  of  sulphate  of  lime  and 
51  of  sulphate  of  soda.  It  therefore  contains  no  water 
of  crystallization  ;  when  immersed  in  water,  it  becomes 
opake. 

NITRATE    OF    LIME.* 

Nitrate  of  Lime  is  rare  as  a  natural  production  ;  be- 
ing only  found  in  silky  efflorescences  on  old  walls  ;  in  ca- 
verns, or  on  calcareous  rocks,  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
decayed  vegetable  matter  ;  and  in  some  mineral  waters. 
Its  taste  is  bitter  and  disagreeable  ;  when  prepared  arti- 
ficially, it  is  obtained  in  six-sided  prisms,  terminated  by 
six-sided  pyramids. 

*  Nitrate  of  Lime. — In  the  States  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky  there  arc: 
Jime-ftone  caves  of  great  extent,  abounding  in  a  faltpetrous  earth.  This, 
on  being  lixiviated  with  potash,  forms  excellent  falt-petre.  The  remain- 
ing earth  carried  back  to  the  caves,  is  capable  of  being  impregnated  anew 
with  the  acid.  And  the  quantity  of  the  calcareous  nitrate  is  so  great,  in 
thefe  numerous  and  vaft  lime-ftone  caverns,  that  there  is  no  ready  means 
*>f  calculating  the  extent  to  which  falt-petre  may  be  prepared.  In  time  of 
•war,  it  is  enough  for  all  the  home  confumption  and  more.  Daring  the 
Jate  conteft  with  Great  Britain,  the  falt-petre  of  Kentucky  was  brought 
abundantly  to  New  York,  for  the  Powder  Milli,  See  Mei  JRefos.  Fol.  o? 
>.  86—88. 


116  ELEMENTABY  INTRODUCT10N 


DA.THOLITE. 

This  rare  mineral  has  only  been  found  at  Arendahl  in 
Norway  ;  of  its  geological  situation  nothing  is  known,  but 
some  specimens  have  been  accompanied  by  greenish 
talc.  The  Datholite  is  greyish-white  and  translucent ; 
it  has  been  found  only  in  ten-sided  prisms,  of  which  the 
primitive  form  is,  according  to  Haiiy,  a  rhomboidal 
prism  of  109°.  28'  and  70°  32'.  terminated  by  rhom- 
boidal planes.  The  analyses  of  this  mineral  differ  a 
little  ;  according  to  Vauquelin,  it  is  composed  of  34  of 
lime,  21.67  of  boracic  acid,  37.66  of  silex,  and  5.5  of 
water. 

A  variety  of  this  substance  called  the  Botryolite. 
which  is  also  found  at  Arendahl,  occurs  in  concentric 
layers  composed  of  very  slender  fibres  j  it  consists  of 
39.5  of  lime,  13.5  of  boracic  acid,  36  of  silex,  6.5  of 
water,  and  1  of  oxide  of  iron. 

THARMACOLItE. 

The  Pharmacolite  is  found  in  minute  fibrous,  or  aci- 
cular  crystals,  of  a  white,  grey,  yellowish,  or  purplish 
colour;  these  crystals  are  aggregated  into  globular 
masses,  or  disseminated  on  the  sides  of  a  vien. 

It  is  extremely  rare  j  having  only  been  found  at  two 
places  :  at  Wittichen,  near  Furstemberg  in  Germany, 
it  is  disseminated  on  silky  or  roundish  masses  on  granite, 
in  a  vein  containing  cobalt,  barytes,  and  sulphate  of  lime. 

Its  purple  colour  is  attributed  to  cobalt.  At  St  Marie 
aux  Mines,  in  the  Vosges,  it  is  found  perfectly  white  : 
its  specific  gravity  is  2.6,  and  it  consists  of  25  per  cent. 
of  lime,  50.54  of  arsenic  acid,  and  24.46  of  water. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  117 


MAGNESIA. 

Magnesia  is  a  light  earth  of  a  perfect  whiteness,  and  is 
absolutely  insipid  ;  it  is  infusible  except  by  voltaic  elec- 
tricity. It  consists  of  oxygen  united  with  a  base  Mag- 
nesium, which  is  but  imperfectly  known,  but  which  is 
considered  to  be  a  metal,  and  is  of  the  same  whiteness 
and  lustre  as  the  bases  of  some  of  the  other  earths, 

Berzelius  states  magnesia  to  consist  of  about  38  per 
cent,  of  oxygen,  and  62  of  magnesium. 

Magnesia  is  not,  like  Silex  and  Alumine,  found  ia 
very  large  quantity,  either  nearly  pure,  or  entering,  in 
very  great  proportion,  into  the  composition  of  numerous 
and  abundant  earthy  substances  :  it  is  found  in  about 
thirty,  in  different  proportions ;  but  in  most  of  these, 
magnesia  is  not  the  prevailing  ingredient,  though  in 
several  it  exceeds  25  per  cent.  It  is  involved  in  a  few 
metalliferous  minerals  in  small  quantity.  It  occurs 
combined  with  the  carbonic,  sulphuric,  and  boracic 
acids ;  but  is  found  in  the  greatest  purity  in  the  mineral 
which  is  termed  native  magnesia. 

NATIVE  MAGNESIA.* 

This  rare  mineral  has  been  found  only  at  Hoboken 
in  New  Jersey,  in  veins  from  a  few  lines  to  a  few  inches 
thick,  traversing  serpentine  in  every  direction.  Its 

*  Native  Magnefia.—l  had  this  mineral  in  my  poffeffion  for  feveral  years, 
without  knowing  what  it  was.  Nor  could  I  learn  from  any  of  my  mine- 
ralogical  friends  what  opinion  ought  to  be  formed  of  it.  But  we  judged  by 
external  characters  only.  Dr.  Bruce  at  length  undertook  a  chemical  analy- 
sis of  the  mineral  ;  and  proved  it  to  be  a  native  magnefia,  or  a  combina- 
tion in  which  70  parts  of  magnefia  were  combined  with  30  parts  of  water, 
It  is  defcribed  by  him  in  his  American  Mineralogical  Journal 
thus  :  colour  white  pafling  into  greenifh  white  ;  luftre  pearly  ;  ftructurc 
foliated ;  the  folia  or  leaves  frequently  having  a  radiated  pofition  ;  the 
leaves  when  feparate,  tranfparent ;  in  the  mafs  femitranfparent  ;  the  fur- 
face  after  expofure  to  the  weather,  becoming  opake ;  fomewhat  elaftic  j 
adheres  flightly  to  the  tongue  ;  foft  ;  powder,  pure  white ;  fpecific  gra- 
vity 2.13  ;  before  the  blowpipe  becomes  opake  and  friable,  and  lofes 
weight  ;  foluble  in  fulphuric,  nitric,  and  muriatic  acids.  Found  at  Hobo? 
ken  on  the  weft  bank  of  the  Hudfon,  oppofite  New  York,  in  veins  of  fer- 
pentine.  Thefe  veins  vary  in  breadth  from  a  few  lines  to  two  inches,  and 
traverfe  the  rock  in  all  directions.  It  alfo  contains  files  and  iron, 


118          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

colour  is  white,  or  greenish  white,  with  a  pearly  lustre. 
It  occurs  in  laminrx?,  which  have  a  laminated  texture, 
and  are  frequently  disposed  in  a  radiated  position.  It  is 
semitransparent,  but  becomes  opake  by  exposure  ;  is 
somewhat  elastic,  adheres  slightly  to  the  tongue,  and  is 
soft :  its  specific  gravity  is  2.13.  and  from  the  analysis  of 
Dr.  Bruce,  it  appears  to  consist  of  magnesia  10,  and  of 
water  30  per  cent. 

A  variety  analyzed  by  Vauquelin,  yielded  2  per  cent, 
of  silex,  and  2£  of  iron. 

CHRYSOLITE. 

The  Chrysolite  occurs  in  angular,  or  in  somewhat 
rounded  masses,  or  crystallized,  usually  in  compressed 
eight  sided  prisms,  which  are  variously  terminated ;  their 
primitive  form, .  according  to  Haiiy,  id  a  right  prism 
with  rectangular  bases  The  colour  of  the  chrysolite  is 
yellow,  sometimes  mixed  with  green  or  brown  ;  it  is 
transparent,  and  possesses  double  refraction  ;  it  scratches 
glass  :  its  specific  gravity  is  3.4  ;  and  it  consists  of  50.5 
per  cent,  of  magnesia,  38  of  silex,  and  9.5  of  oxide  of 
iron. 

It  is  found  near  Schelkowitz  in  Bohemia,  and  at  Jur- 
nau,  in  the  Circle  of  Bunzlau  ;  in  serpentine,  at  Leats- 
chau  in  Hungary  ;  in  the  river  St.  Denis,  at  the  foot  of 
the  volcano  of  the  isle  of  Bourbon ;  and  in  the  debris  of 
the  volcano  of  Bolsano.  The  chrystolite  of  commerce  is 
brought  from  the  Levant ;  it  is  in  little  masses  which 
appear  to  be  rounded  by  attrition ;  but  nothing  is  known 
of  its  geological  situation. 

The  Qlivin  is  considered  to  be  a  variety  of  the  chry- 
solite, though  it  differs  in  respect  of  analysis;  the  pro- 
portions of  silex  and  alumine  contained  in  it  being  near- 
ly reversed,  and  it  contains  a  trace  of  lime  :  its  external 
characters  agree  in  many  respects  with  those  of  the  chry- 
solite, but  it  is  never  found  crystallized;  both  are  by  some 
considered  to  be  of  volcanic  origin  ;  but  the  correctness 
of  this  opinion,  in  respect  to  both  of  them,  may,  from 
their  occasional  geological  situation,  be  doubted.  The 
olivin  is  chiefly  found  in  little  semi-transparent  masses, 
which,  sometimes,  from  their  being  in  a  state  of  decom- 


TO  MINERALOGY. 

position,  have  an  irridescent  and  somewhat  metallic  lus- 
tre ;  it  is  found  principally  in  basalts  and  lavas. 

It  occurs  in  basalt  near  the  village  of  Colombier  in  the 
Vivarais ;  in  the  basalt  of  Bohemia ;  of  Kalkberg  in 
Russia  ;  of  Hungary  ;  and  in  masses  of  considerable  size 
in  that  of  Unkel  on  the  banks  of  the  Rhine,  near  Co- 
logne. It  is  also  found  in  the  same  kind  of  rock  at  Tees- 
dale  in  Durham  ;  in  the  county  of  Donegal  in  Ireland  : 
near  Arthur's  Seat,  Edinburgh,  and  in  the  isle  of  Rum. 
It  is  found  in  the  lavas  of  Etna,  and  of  Piperino  near 
Rome. 

The  semi-transparent  yellowish  substance  enclosed  in 
the  mass  of  native  iron  found  in  Siberia  by  Professor 
Pallas,  is  generally  considered  to  be  a  variety  of  olivin. 
It  consists,  according  to  Klaproth,  of  41  per  cent,  of  si- 
lex,  38.5  of  magnesia,  and  18.5  of  iron. 

SERPENTINE.* 

Serpentine  is  always  found  massive ;  it  is  translucent 
at  the  edges,  somewhat  unctuous  to  the  touch,  and  in 
general,  yields  easily  to  the  knife.  Serpentine  varies 
exceedingly  in  respect  of  colour ;  which,  generally  speak- 
ing, is  green  of  various  shades,  or  bluish  green,  yellowish, 
or  reddish  :  sometimes  its  colour  is  uniform;  more  of- 

*  Serpentine. — Detached  pieces  of  Serpentine,  are  found  fcattered 
through  the  alluvial  bails  of  New-York  city.  Some  of  them  are  beautifully 
coloured.  The  colours  vary  from  deep  green  to  cream  coloured  and 
whitilh.  I  have  pieces  that  prefent  the  appearance  of  vegetable  forms 
in  painting,  and  are  in  reality  a  kind  of  landscape-ftone. 

The  promontory  of  Hoboken  con  lifts  chiefly  of  ferpentine  is  a  maflivf 
form.  It  is  cracked  through  in  all  directions  with  veins  and  fiffures.  Be- 
fides  the  two  forms  of  magnefia  herein  mentioned,  thofe  veins  contain 
asbeftos,  of  a  finning  luftre.  It  is  greenish  and  cryftallized,  but  the 
cryftals  generally  crofs  the  vein  obliquely  and  not  at  right"  angles.— 
This  serpentine  alfo  embraces  a  white  mineral,  of  considerable  hardnefs, 
whofe  furface  is  frequently  covered  with  minute  cryftals.  This  has  been 
confidered  as  a  variety  of  tremoHte. 

Serpentine  admitting  a  neat  polish  has  been  brought  from  Rhode* 
Ifland. 

Some  of  the  huge  rorks  of  ftellated  afbeftos,  in  New- York  city,  run 
into  ferpentine.  For  many  years  fuch  a  mafs  has  been  lying  in  Cherry- 
Street  near  Clinton  Street.  Though  the  radiations  of  cryftals  are  very 
plain,  the  material  neverthelefs  yields  eafily  U  the  faw,  and  can  be  made 
into  fiabs  like  marble.  It  is  greenifh  and  variegated  with  whitish  clouds. 


120  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

ten,  it  is  spotted  or  veined  with  various  colours  ;  when 
thus  variegated,  it  is  considered  to  be  less  pure  and  of 
more  recent  formation,  that  when  of  one  colour :  the 
latter  consists  of  37.24  of  magnesia,  32  of  silex,  10.2 
lime,  0.5  of  alumine,  0.6  of  iron,  and  14  of  water. 

The  more  ancient  serpentine  is  ranked  among  primi- 
tive rocks:  it  accompanies,  is  mixed  with,  or  alternates 
with,  primitive  granular  limestone,  resting  upon  gneiss, 
or  micaceous  schistus,  hence  it  has  been  called  Primi- 
tive serpentine ;  by  some  Noble  serpentine.  It  occurs 
in  horizontal  beds  on  the  summit  of  Mont  Rosa  ;  the 
greatest  elevation  at  which  it  has  been  observed.  The 
more  recent  formation,  sometimes  called  Common  ser- 
pentine, is  considered  to  be  a  transition  rock ;  it  often 
encloses  steatite,  talc,  asbestus,  chlorite,*inica,  garnet, 
magnetic  iron,  &c.  ;  but  it  rarely  includes  metalliferous 
veins  or  beds.  In  the  large  serpentine  tract  of  Corn- 
wall, native  copper  has  been  found  disseminated. 

Serpentine  occurs  on  the  side  of  the  Alps  towards 
Genoa;  as  Zceblitz  in  Saxony;  in  Bohemia  and  Hun- 

firy ;  at  Dobsrhau  in  Transylvania  ;  at  Zillerthal  in  the 
yrol ;  in  the  Milanese  ;  in  Piedmont,  alternating  with 
beds  of  magnetic  iron  ;  in  Spain  and  France.  In  a 
word,  serpentine,  though  less  abundant  than  many  other 
rocks,  is  met  with  in  most  mountain  chains.  Primitive 
serpentine  of  uncommon  beauty  is  found  at  Portsoy  in 
Scotland ;  that  of  Cornwall  is  considered  to  be  of  more 
recent  formation. 

It  is  fashioned  by  the  lathe  into  vases  for  ornamental 
purposes  at  Zceblitz  in  Saxony,  and  at  Bareuth;  it  is 
also  made  into  chimney  pieces,  which  are  very  beau- 
tiful. 

Steatite  and  Potstone  are  considered  by  mineralogists 
to  be  nearly  allied  to  serpentine. 

CARBONATE  OF  MAGNESIA.^  MAGNES1TE. 

Carbonate  of  Magnesia  was  heretofore  considered  as 

*  The  native  carbonate  of  Magnefia  has  been  difcovered  alfo  at  Hobo* 
ken,  in  the  crevices  of  the  ferpentine  rock,  which  contains  the  native  mag-, 
aefia,  by  Mr.  J.  Pierce.  The  fpecimens  exhibited  to  the  .Lyceum  of  Natn* 


TO  MINERALOGY,  121 

pure  Native  magnesia,  until,  by  analysis,  the  presence 
of  carbonic  acid  was  detected  :  it  has  nevertheless  been 
asserted  of  some  varieties  of  this  mineral,  particularly 
that  of  Castellamonte,  that  when  first  brought  from  the 
quarry  or  mine,  it  contains  no  carbonic  acid,  which  af- 
terwards it  absorbs  from  the  atmosphere.  It  is  usually 
found  inj  large  masses,  (which  are  sometimes  cellul- 
lar,  and  soft  enough  to  yield  to  the  nail,  which  occa- 
sionally gives  a  polish  by  passing  over  it ;  but  internally, 
it  is  sometimes  harder  than  calcareous  spar :  it  adheres  to 
the  tongue. 

The  carbonate  of  magnesia  of  Roubschitz  in  Moravia, 
is  found  in  a  serpentine  rock,  accompanied  by  meers- 
chaum. It  is  opalce,  tender,  and  of  a  yellowish  grey 
colour,  spotted  with  black.  It  consists  of  equal  parts  of 
magnesia  and  carbonic  acid. 

It  also  occurs  in  serpentine,  in  veins  or  beds  near 
Piedmont :  that  of  Baudissero,  is  accompanied  by  hy- 
drophane,  and  contains  15  of  silex,  and  3  of  sulphate  of 
lime  :  that  of  Castellamonte  consists  of  magnesia,  car- 
bonic acid,  silex  and  water.  Both  these  varieties  are 
employed  in  the  porcelain  manufactory  at  Piedmont. 

SULPHATE    OF    MAGNESIA.* 

Sulphate  of  Magnesia  occasionally  occurs  in  the  natu- 
ral state,  in  the  form  of  fine  capillary  crystals,  on  the 
surface  of  decomposing  schistus,  or  of  gypsum,  or  of 
the  soil,  and  often  in  coal  pits.  It  has  been  observed 
in  the  quicksilver  mines  of  Idria ;  on  the  surface  of  gyp- 
sum in  the  quarries  of  Piedmont,  and  of  Mont-martre 
near  Paris;  on  the  surface  of  the  soil  in  many  large 
tracts  of  Andalusia  in  Spain,  after  floods ;  and  in  the 
foundation  and  lower  walls  of  most  of  the  houses  in  Ma- 
drid, it  issues  in  efflorescences  from  the  mortar,  arising 
from  its  decomposition,  and  therefore  to  the  injury  of 


ral  Hiftory,  are  white,  powdery,  and  in  external  appearance  very  much 
like  the  common  magnefia  of  the  (hops.  The  quantity  found  is  fmali, 
and  particles  of  grit  feem  to  be  scattered  through  it. 

*  Sulphate  of  Magnefia.—From  a  iample  or  two  I  have  feen,  native 
Epfom  fait  fcems  to  be  a  production  of  Come  of  the  caverns  in  Wcfteru 
Virginia. 


122         ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

the  building.  Similar  effects  are  occasionally  to  be  no- 
ticed in  this  country. 

Sulphate  of  Magnesia  is  also  an  ingredient  of  certain 
saline  springs.  It  was  first  discovered  in  the  mineral  wa- 
ter of  Epsom  in  Surry,  in  1675,  from  which  it  is  extract- 
ed by  boiling,  and  consitutes  that  substance  which  in 
medicine  is  called  Epsom  Salts.  It  has  been  since  dis- 
covered in  the  mineral  water  of  Sedlitz  and  of  Egra  in 
Bohemia.  At  the  salt-works  of  Portsmouth  and  Ly- 
niington,  it  is  obtained  from  what  is  termed  the  bittern 
of  sea-water ;  which  is  the  residue,  after  ail  the  muriate 
of  soda,  or  common  salt,  has  been  extracted.  The 
mode  of  preparing  it  is  not  generally  known. 

The  regular  form  of  the  crystals  of  this  salt,  is  a  four- 
sided  prism,  terminated  at  each  end,  by  a  two  or  four- 
sided  pyramid  :  its  primitive  crystal  is  a  four-sided  rec- 
tangular prism.  The  crystals  show  a  double  refraction. 

Epsom  salts  contain  19  parts  of  magnesia,  33  of  sul- 
phuric acid,  and  48  of  water. 

BORACITE.       BORATE    OF    MAGNESIA. 

The  Boracite  has  only  been  found  in  the  mountain  of 
Kalkberg  in  the  Duchy  of  Brunswick ;  where  it  occurs 
in  small  crystals  imbedded  in  compact  of  sulphate  of 
lime.  These  crystals  are  sometimes  transparent,  some- 
times opake,  and  are  hard  enough  to  give  sparks  with 
the  steel.  Their  primitive  form  is  the  cube,  which  is  not 
often  found  perfect ;  the  edges  and  angles  being  mostly 
replaced  by  the  planes  of  certain  modifications  to  which 
it  is  subject,  and  which  are  not  common  to  other  mine- 
rals ;  four  of  the  angles  constantly  present  a  greater  num- 
ber of  faces,  than  the  other  four.  The  crystals  become 
electric  by  the  application  of  heat;  manifesting  the 
vitreous  electricity  on  the  angles  which  present  the 
greatest  number  of  planes,  and  resinous  electricity  on 
the  others.  The  Boracite  consists  of  about  83  parts  of 
the  boracic  acid,  and  17  of  magnesia:  when  translu- 
cent or  opake,  it  contains  a  proportion  of  carbonate^of 
lime. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  123 


ZIRCON* 

•*,.V'  r*5'*«'*^*1f^,  i&Vj.-^fc.V 

ZIRCON,  when  pure,  is  white,  rougb  to  the  touch,  in- 
sipid, and  insoluble  in  water  ;  and  is  about  4  times  its 
weight.  Like  the  other  earths,  it  is  infusible,  except 
by  the  powerful  action  of  voltaic  electricity  ;  by  the  as- 
sistance of  which  it  has  been  ascertained  that  Zircon  is 
a  compound,  consisting  of  oxygen  united  with  a  base 
Zirconium  ;  the  nature  of  which  is  unknown.  The  pro- 
portions in  which  oxygen  and  zirconium  enter  into  the 
composition  of  Zircon,  have  not  been  determined- 
It  is  very  sparingly  found  ;  and  then  only  entering  into 
the  composition  of  three  substances,  together  with  silex 
and  oxide  of  iron  ;  and  in  one  instance  with  a  small  por- 
tion of  oxide  of  titanium  :  it  has  not  been  detected  as  a 
component  part  of  any  rock. 

Zircon  has  not  been  put  to  any  use. 
The  three  minerals  which  are  principally  composed 
of  Zircon,  viz.  the  hyacinth,  the  Jargoon,  and  the  zir- 
conite,  all  occur  crystallized.  The  form  of  their  primi- 
tive crystal  is  an  obtuse  octohedron,  but  their  crystals 
commonly  have  twelve  planes,  four  of  which  are  six- 
sided,  and  are  the  consequence  of  the  replacement  of 
the  lateral  solid  angles  of  the  primitive  crystal,  causing 
each  of  its  four  terminal  planes  to  assume  a  rhombic 
form,  instead  of  the  triangular,  as  in  the  primitive  crys- 
tal. The  crystals  of  these  substances,  of  which  I  pos- 
sess about  45  varieties,  resemble,  in  a  remarkable  de- 
gree, those  of  the  oxide  of  tin,  which  also  have  for  their 
primitive  crystal  a  flat  octohedron  :  they  are  doubly  re- 
fractive, when  translucent,  and  somewhat  harder  than 
quartz,  and  their  specific  gravity  exceeds  4.  These  sub- 
stances are  infusible,  but  sometimes  lose  their  colour  by 
exposure  to  heat 

Zircon.— This  mineral  is  reported  to  have  been  difcovered  among  the 
primitive  and  tranfition  rocks,  in  various  places  ;  fuch  as  the  vicinity  oi 
.Baltimore,  Trenton,  Sdioolcy's  mountain,  and  Sharon. 


124  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 


HYACINTH. 

The  Hyacinth  is  of  various  shades  of  red,  passing  into 
orange  red  :  it  is  transparent  or  translucent :  its  struc- 
ture is  lamellar,  which  is  readily  discovered  in  one  direc- 
tion. 

The  hyacinth,  as  well  as  the  two  following  substances, 
are  considered  to  belong  to  primitive  countries.  The 
hyacinth,  in  the  form  of  its  primitive  crystal,  has  been 
found  among  the  corundum  of  the  East  Indies ;  but  is 
commonly  found  in  the  beds  of  rivers  or  of  brooks.  It 
occurs  in  the  brook  Expailly,  in  Auvergne  in  France,  in 
a  sand  that  is  considered  to  be  of  volcanic  origin  ;  and  is 
also  met  with  in  a  sand  of  the  same  description  in  the 
territory  of  Vicenza,  near  Pisa  in  Italy,  and  in  Ceylon  : 
it  is  also  found  at  Scbelkowilz  in  Bohemia,  and  in  Bra- 
zil. That  of  Ceylon  consists  of  70  per  cent,  of  zircon, 
25  of  silex,  and  0.5  of  oxide  of  iron  :  that  of  Expail- 
ly consists  of  less  zircon  and  more  silex. 

JAllGOON. 

The  Jargoon  occurs  in  small  transparent  or  translu- 
cent crystals,  which  are  considerably  prismatic,  and  of  a 
greyish,  yellowish,  brownish  or  reddish  colour,  having 
frequently  a  smoky  tinge ;  and  in  rounded  masses,  as 
well  as  in  crystals  of  considerable  dimension,  very  near- 
ly approaching  their  primitive  form,  and  of  a  brown  co- 
lour and  opake  :  they  seem  to  possess  no  regular  struc- 
ture. This  substance  is  usually  called  the  Jargon  of 
Ceylon :  it  is  found  in  the  sand  of  rivers  in  the  middle 
of  that  island,  and  has  been  met  with  in  granite,  near 
Cuffel,  in  Dumfrieshire  in  Scotland.  Jargoon  consists, 
according  to  Vauquelin,  of  66  per  cent,  of  zircon,  31  of 
silex,  and  2  of  oxide  of  iron. 

ZIBCONITE. 

The  Zirconite  is  of  a  reddish  brown  colour,  and  nearly 
opake  :  it  occurs  in  crystals  imbedded  in  a  rock,  cc-rc- 
eisting  of  felspar  and  hornblende,  at  Frederick-Schwerin 


T(T  MINERALOGY,  1 

in  Norway ;    by  one  analysis,  it  consists  of  64  of  zircon, 
34  of  silex,  0.25  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  1  of  titanium. 

The  yellow  and  smoke  coloured  varieties  of  the  above 
substances  are  called,  by  the  Jewellers,  Jargoons,  and 
are  said  to  sometimes  passed  off  as  diamonds,  when  de* 
prived  of  their  colour  by  heat  :  the  red,  or  orange  red, 
they  call  hyacinths  :  the  commercial  value  of  each  is  in* 
ferior  to  that  of  all  the  oriental  gems  :  in  Norway,  the 
zirconite,  when  cut  and  polished,  is  employed  as  one  of 
the  habiliments  of  mourning. 


GLUCINE. 

GLUCINE  obtained  that  name  from  the  Greek 
signifying  sweet,  on  account  of  the  sweet  taste  by  which 
its  salts  are  distinguished.  When  pure,  glucine  is  a 
white  powder,  soft,  and  somewhat  unctuous  to  the  touch  } 
its  specific  gravity  is  nearly  3. 

Sir  H.  Davy  has  proved  that  glucine  consists  of  oxy- 
gen united  with  a  base,  Glucinum,  of  which  the  nature 
is  not  known.  It  is  computed  that  this  earth  is  consti- 
tuted of  about  30  per  cent,  of  oxygen  united  with  70 
per  cent,  of  glucinum. 

Glucine  has  only  been  met  with  combined  with  other 
substances,  and  then  only  in  small  quantities,  and  in  a 
very  few  minerals,  viz.  eucla.se,  beryl,  emerald,  and 
gadoiipite. 

EUCLASE. 

The  Euclase  is  extremely  rare;  it  has  only  been 
brought  from  Peru  by  one  traveller ;  nothing  is  known 
of  its  geological  situation.  It  has  only  been  met  with  in 
one  form,  which  is  so  complicated,  that  the  crystals,  if 
perfect,  would  have  exhibited  78  planes ;  by  cleavage, 
it  may  be  reduced  to  a  rectangular  prism,  which  there- 
fore is  esteemed  to  be  the  form  of  the  primitive  crystal. 
It  is  of  a  light  green  colour  and  transparent,  and  readily 

L  21 


126  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

separates  into  thin  laminae  ;  but  is  hard  enough  to  scratch 
glass,  and  possesses  double  refraction.  It  has  not  been 
analyzed  with  accuracy ;  by  analysis  of  36  grains,  it 
yielded  about  14  percent,  of  glucine,  35ofsilex,  18 
of  alumine,  and  2  of  oxide  of  iron  ;  Vauquelin  consider- 
ed the  greatest  part  of  the  remainder  to  be  water  of  crys- 
tallization. 

BERYL.*        AQUAMARINE. 

The  Beryl  is  of  various  shades  of  yellow,  green,  and 
-4blue ;  its  most  common  form  is  the  hexahedral  prism, 
which  commonly  is  deeply  striated  longitudinally  :  it  is 
double  refractive  in  a  slight  degree,  but  only  when  held 
in  particular  directions.  It  occurs  in  crystab  of  vari- 
ous sizes.;  they  have  been  met  with  a  foot  or  more  in 
length,  and  4  inches  in  diameter,  and  nearly  transpa- 
rent. According  to  Vauquelin,  the  Beryl  consists  of  14 
per  cent,  of  glucine,  68  of  silex,  15  of  alumine,  2  of 
lime^  and  1  of  oxide  of  iron. 

It  belongs  to  primitive  countries  :  it  occurs  in  veins 
traversing  granite,  chiefly  of  the  variety  termed  gra- 
phite :  its  gangue  is  quartz,  or  compact  ferruginous 
elay. 

It  is  found  in  the  greatest  abundance  and  purity  near 
Nertchink  in  Daouria,  on  the  confines  of  China,  in  com- 
pact ferruginous  clay.  It  occurs  in  the  Altaic  chain  in 
Siberia ;  and  in  Persia  in  a  vein  traversing  a  granite 
mountain,  and  is  accompanied  by  quartz,  topaz,  and 
Crystallized  felspar.  It  has  also  been  found  in  a  vein 
passing  through  granite  near  Limoges  in  France  ;  and 
near  Autun,  in  a  rock  chiefly  consisting  of  felspar;  in 
graphic  granite  in  Pennsylvania.  The  Beryl  is  also 
found  in  Brazil,  Saxony,  and  the  isle  of  Elba. 

It  occurs  inKinloch,  Raimochand  Cairngorm  in  Aber- 
deenshire ;  at  Dundrum  in  the  county  of  Dublin ;  and 

*  Beryl.  Our  mineralogists  have  detected  Beryl,  in  feveral  different 
places :  fuch,  among  others,  are  Bowdoinham  and  Topiham,  in  Maine  ; 
Chesterfield,  Maflachufetts ;  Haddam  and  other  places,  Connecticut  ^ 
Siagfing,  New- York ;  banks  of  the  Schuylkill,  Pennfylvania ;  and  Balti? 
<ngre,  in  Maryland. 


TO   MINEHALOGY.  .       127 

at  Lough  Bray,  and  Cronebane  in  the  county  of  Wick- 
low  in  Ireland. 

It  is  usually  considered  as  a  variety  of  the  emerald, 
but  differs  from  it  both  in  hardness  and  composition,  and 
mostly  in  colour. 

EMERALD.* 

The  form  in  which  the  emerald  usually  occurs,  is  that 
of  a  six-sided  prism,  which  also  is  that  of  its  primitive 
crystal ;  it  is  occasionally  modified  at  the  terminations ; 
sometimes  each  of  the  six  lateral  edges  is  replaced  by  a 
plane.  Its  colour  is  a  pure  and  beautiful  green ;  it  is 
somewhat  harder  than  quartz,  but  not  so  hard  as  the 
beryl :  it  never  occurs  in  very  large  crystals.  Accord- 
ing to  Vauquelin,  it  consists  of  13  of  glucine,  64.5  of 
silex,  16  of  alumine,  1.6  of  lime,  and  3.25  of  oxide  of 
chrome  ;  it  is  supposed  to  be  coloured  by  the  latter  sub- 
stance. 

The  emeralds  known  to  the  ancients  were  found  in 
Upper  Egypt,  and  in  the  mountains  of  Ethiopia.  The 
finest  are  now  found  in  Peru.  The  mine  of  Manta  is 
exhausted  ;  the  present  mine  is  situated  in  the  valley  of 
Tunca,  in  Santa-Fe,  between  the  mountains  of  New 
Grenada  and  Popayan  :  Emeralds  occur  there  in  veins, 
or  in  cavities,  in  granite.  They  have  also  been  found 
in  some  secondary  countries  ;  in  which  they  are  suppos- 
ed not  to  have  been  in  their  original  situation. 

*  Emeralds  occur  in  feverai  parts  of  the  Fredonian  territory.  Theybe^ 

long  to  the  class  of  primitive  rocks,  in  which  they  occafionally  refide. 

Emeralds,  refcmbling  in  clearnefs  and  tranfparency  thofe  of  Siberia,  have 
been  found  at  Topftam,  in  well  defined  hexahedral  prifms.  They  arc 
often  contained  in  the  coarft -grained  granite  ;  and  fometimes  equal  in  co- 
lour the  fined  Peruvian  emerald.— (Cleaveiand  and  Bruce.} 

Cheflerfield,  in  Maflachufetts,  furniihes  them  in  great  abundance,  from 
the  weight  of  an  ounce  and  lefs,  to  fix  pounds.  Their  figure  is  a  hexangu* 
lar  prifm,  and  their  diameter  fometimes  twelve  inches.  Colour,  a  light 
green.— (Waterlome*}  They  are  also  found  at  Northampton  and  Go- 
Jhen. — (Hunt.}  Haddani  affords  a  plenty  of  Emeralds,  some  of  which  are 
feverai  inches  long ;  generally  of  a  lightifh  green,  and  fometimes  of  an 
amber  colour,  refembling  topaz.  An  extraordinary  one,  feven  inches  long 
by  nine  inches,  of  diagonal  diameter,  was  found  there.— (Mother.)  Eme- 
ralds are  fcarce  in  New- York ;  yet  the  granite  veins  traverfing  the  gneifs, 
liave  afforded  a  few  tali  ones,  They  have  been  alfo  found  at  Clwfbr , 
ia  Pennfylvania, 


128          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

The  emerald  is  reckoned  among  the  gems  ;  and  when 
of  a  fine  colour,  and  without  flaws,  is  highly  esteemed. 
The  large  emeralds  spoken  of  by  various  writers,  such 
as  that  in  the  Abbey  of  Richenau,  of  the  weight  of  28 
pounds,  and  which  formerly  belonged  to  Charlemagne, 
are  believed  to  be  either  green  fiuor,  or  prase.  The 
most  magnificent  specimen  of  genuine  emerald  was  pre- 
sented to  the  church  of  Loretto  by  one  of  the  Spanish 
kings  ;  it  consists  of  a  mass  of  white  quartz,  thickly  im- 
planted with  emeralds,  more  than  an  inch  in  'diameter. 

GADOLINITE.       See  Index. 


YTTRIA. 

YTTRIA,  in  many  of  its  properties  and  appearances  in- 
ks pure  state,  bears  considerable  afnnity  to  glucine  ;  it 
has  the  same  saccharine  taste,  but  is  easily  distinguished 
from  it,  inasmuch  as  it  is  nearly  five  times  heavier  than 
water,  and  by  some  properties  discoverable  only  by  the 
chemist. 

It  has  been  ascertained  by  Sir  H.  Davy,  that  oxygen 
enters  into  the  composition  of  Yttria  :  but  the  base, 
Yttrium,  with  which  it  is  combined,  has  not  yet  been 
9jcn  in  a  separate  form  ;  nor  have  the  proportions  in 
which  oxygen  and  yttrium  respectively  enter  into  the 
composition  of  Yttria,  hitherto  been  decided. 

In  the  natural  state,  Yttria  occurs  as  a  component  part 
of  a  rare  mineral  substance  called  the  gadolinite,  which 
is  brought  only  from  Sweden,  and  which  is  so  called  on 
account  of  its  having  been  first  analyzed  by  the  Swedish 
professor  Gadolin,  who  named  the  earth  Yttria,  because 
the  mineral  in  which  it  was  discovered,  was  brought 
from  Ytterby  in  Sweden. 

Yttria  has  not  been  found  entering  into  the  composi 
tion  of  any  other  mineral  except  the  Yttrotantalite. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  129 


GADOL1N1TE. 

The  Gadolinite  is  of  a  greenish  or  brownish  black 
colour,  and  occurs  massive,  and  crystallized,  though  not 
very  determinately,  in  rhomboidal  prisms.  It  is  opake, 
slightly  translucent,  and  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass  ; 
it  generally  affects  the  magnetic  needle,  and  is  composed 
of  54.75  of  Yttria,  with  a  trace  of  manganese,  21.25  of 
silex,  5.5  of  glucine,  0.5  of  alumine,  17.5  of  oxide  of 
iron,  and  0.6  of  water. 

It  is  found  adhering  to  felspar  and  mica,  in  veins  prin- 
cipally composed  of  the  former,  traversed  by  other  veins 
composed  of  the  latter  substance  ;  and  is  accompanied 
by  the  rare  mineral  called  Yttrotantalite,  noticed  in  the 
description  of  the  metal  Tantalium.  It  has  been  found 
only  at  Ytterby  in  Sweden* 


BARYTES. 

BARYTES,  when  pure,  is  white,  has  a  sharp  caustic 
taste,  and  as  it  possesses  some  of  the  characters  of  the 
alkalies,  it  has  by  some  chemists  been  classed  amongst 
them  ;  others  have  denominated  it  an  Alkaline  Earth. 

Barytes  consists  of  oxygen  united  with  a  base  Barium, 
with  which  it  is  united  in  the  proportion  of  about  10  per 
cent,  of  oxygen  to  90  per  cent,  of  Barium.  This  base 
has  the  appearance  of  a  dark  grey  metal,  which  requires 
considerable  force  to  flatten  it,  and  has  a  lustre  interior 
to  that  of  cast  iron  ;  but  it  has  not  been  obtained  in 
quantity  sufficient  to  allow  of  the  examination  of  its  phy- 
sical or  chemical  qualities  :  some  circumstances  render 
it  probable  that  Barium  is  four  or  five  times  heavier 
than  water. 

Barytes  has  never  been  found  pure  :  it  is  combined 
either  with  the  carbonic  acid,  forming  carbonate  of  Ba- 
rytes, or  with  sulphuric  acid  forming  sulphate  of  Ba- 
rytes, These  compounds  (or,  to  use  the  term  given  to 


130  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

minerals  composed  of  earths  mineralized  by  acids,)  these 
earthy  salts  may  be  readily  distinguished  from  other 
earthy  minerals  by  their  superior  weight ;  being  more 
than  four  times  the  weight  of  water. 

Though  Barytes  is  found,  thus  mineralized,  in  con- 
siderable quantity  in  certain  countries,  it  is  by  no  means 
plentifully  distributed,  since  it  has  not  hitherto  been  de- 
tected entering  into  the  composition  of  any  rock  ;  nor 
in  more  than  one  or  two  earthy  minerals  ;  it  is  not  be- 
lieved to  be  common  in  soils. 

Barytes  is  a  violent  and  certain  poison, 

CARBONATE  OF   BARXTES.       W1THERITE. 

The  carbonate  of  Barytes  is  of  much  less  frequent 
occurence  than  the  sulphate.  It  obtained  the  name  of 
Witherite,  from  its  having  been  discovered  by  Dr. 
Withering,  who  first  noticed  it  at  Anglesark  in  Lanca- 
shire, in  a  vein,  with  sulphuret  of  lead,  and  some  of  the 
ores  of  zinc,  traversing  a  stratified  mountain,  composed 
of  beds  of  sandstone,  slate,  and  coal ;  the  carbonate  of 
Barytes  is  chiefly  found  in  the  lower  part  of  the  vein, 
the  sulphate  nearer  the  surface  :  the  carbonate  occurs  in 
this  vein  in  globular  masses,  having  a  radiated  structure. 
It  has  since  been  found  in  cellular  masses  near  Neaberg 
in  Stiria,  and  at  Schlangenberg  in  Siberia  ;  it  is  also 
found  in  a  lead  mine  near  St.  Asaph  in  Flintshire,  and 
in  many  places  in  the  north  of  England  :  at  Alston  in 
Cumberland ;  Arkendale,  Weltborpe,  and  Dufton  in 
Durham  ;  Merton  Fell  in  Westmoreland,  and  at  Snail- 
bach  mine  in  Shropshire. 

It  is  sometimes  crystallized  in  hexahedral  prisms  ter- 
minated by  hexahedral  pyramids,  and  much  resembles 
crystallized  quartz.  The  primitive  crystal  is  a  some- 
what obtuse  rhomboid  of  88°  6' and  91°  54',  according 
to  Haiiy,  who  describes  4  varieties  to  which  it  is  sub- 
ject ;  it  is  generally  white  and  translucent,  sometimes 
yellowish,  or  brownish  white,  and  easily  yields  to  the 
knife. — Its  specific  gravity  is  4.3;  and  it  is  composed  of 
78  of  barytes  and  22  of  carbonic  acid. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  131 


SULPHATE  OF  BARYTES.^    HEAVY  SPAR. 

This  mineral  is  found  massive  and  crystallized  :  it  oc- 
curs white  and  transparent  or  opake,  and  of  various 
shades  of  yellow,  green,  red  and  blue.  Occasionally  it 
resembles  carbonate  of  lime,  but  may  readily  be  distin- 
guished by  its  superior  weight,  as  well  as  by  the  internal 
appearance  of  its  natural  joints,  parallel  to  the  sides  of  a 
right  rhornboidal  prism,  (the  form  of  its  primitive  crys^ 
tal),  which  may  mostly  be  seen,  when  held  up  to  the 
light.  The  crystals  in  my  possession,  exhibit  111  varie- 
ties of  form,  which  are  extremly  interesting ;  the  angles 
of  the  primitive  crystal,  into  which  it  may  readily  be 
broken,  are,  according  to  Hauy,  101°  32'  13"  and  78° 
217'  47",  but  when  taken  by  means  of  the  reflecting  goni- 
ometer by  clear  reflections  on  fractured  surfaces,  these 
angles  afford,  101°  42' and  78°  18'  ;  which  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  believing,  is  their  true  value.  It  is,  how- 
ever, remarkable,  that  measurements  taken  by  that  go- 
niometer on  the  natural  primitive  planes,  however  bril- 
liant, neither  agree  with  the  measurements  above  quoted, 
nor  with  those  of  Hauy,  nor  with  each  other. 

Heavy  spar  is  harder  than  carbonate  of  lime,  but  not 
so  hard  as  fluatc  of  lime  ;  it  possesses  a  double  refrac- 
tion when  held  in  a  particular  direction  :  its  specific  gra- 
vity is  4.7  ;  and  it  is  composed  of  67  of  barytes,  and  33 
of  sulphuric  acid. 

Finely  crystallized  specimens  are  found  in  the  mines 
of  Hungary,  Transylvania,  the  Hartz,  Saxony,  Spain, 
&c.  ;  and  in  our  own  country,  in  those  of  Durham, 
Westmoreland,  and  Cumberland  :  and  some  have  lately 
been  found,  though  in  small  quantity,  in  the  United 
Mines  in  Cornwall.  It  is  said  to  occur  in  stalactites  in 
Derbyshire  :  it  occurs  in  opake  and  compact,  and  some- 
times in  concentric  lamellae,  or  in  fine  concentric  fibres, 
in  the  same  county,  and  is  there  termed  Cawk. 

*  Sulphate  of  Barytes  received  from  the  Louifiana  lead  mines ;  from  the 
head  waters  of  James  River  ;  from  Monocafy,  near  Fredericktowu  Mary- 
land ;  from  Newtown,  in  Suflex  county,  New-Jerfey  ;  and  from  feveral 
ether  places. 


132  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

A  variety  has  been  found  in  the  mines  of  Saxony  and 
of  Derbyshire,  in  small  white  rhomboidal  prisms,  late- 
rally aggregated  in  columns,  which  have  a  pearly  lustre 
and  are  generally  translucent.  It  is  called  columnar  heavy 
spar,  or  stangenspath  ;  it  is  sometimes  mistaken  for  car- 
bonate of  lead. 

Sulphate  of  Barytes  is  also  met  with  of  a  granular 
texture,  somewhat  resembling  that  of  statuary  marble, 
from  which  it  is  at  once  distinguished  by  its  greater 
weight ;  it  is  composed  of  90  per  cent,  of  sulphate  of 
Barytes,  and  10  of  silex.  It  is  found  at  Pegau  in  Stiria, 
r.-ith  sulphuret  of  lead  ;  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony  ;  at 
Schlan^enberg  in  Siberia,  with  malachite  and  native 
copper. 

Another  variety  which  occurs  near  Bologna  in  Italy, 
thence  termed  the  Bolognian  Stone,  in  translucent  pie- 
ces of  a  smoke  grey  colour,  gives  out,  when  rubbed,  a  fe- 
tid smell ;  which  by  some  has  been  attributed  to  the 
presence  of  bitumen. 

The  sulphate  of  Barytes  is  never  found  forming  moun- 
tains, rarely  in  beds  ;  but  it  alternates  in  thin  beds  with 
spathose  iron  at  Poratsch  in  Hungary.  Nor  is  it  often 
found  in  large  masses  :  but  it  often  occurs  in  considera- 
ble veins,  rich  in  metalliferous  ores,  in  primitive,  tran- 
sition, and  flo3tz  mountains.  It  accompanies  sulphuret 
of  antimony  in  the  mines  of  Hungary,  and  sulphuret  of 
jnercury  in  those  of  the  Palatinate  ;  sometimes  also  zinc, 
iron,  lead,  and  sulphuret  of  copper. 

The  uses  of  sulphate  of  Barytes  are  very  limited  ;  it 
is  sometimes  used  in  metallurgy,  to  facilitate  the  fusion 
of  certain  metalliferous  gangues.  It  is  said  that  the  va- 
riety called  Cawk  is  used  in  the  smelting  of  copper  at 
.Birmingham. 

HEPATITE. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  lamellar  or  globular  masses, 
of  a  yellowish,  brownish,  or  blackish  colour,  which  give 
out  a  fetid  odour  on  being  rubbed  or  heated  ;  it  consists 
of  85.2  of  sulphate  of  Barytes,  6  of  sulphate  of  lime  ;  1 
of  alumine,  5  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  0.5  of  carbon. 


TO    MINERALOGY.  133 

It  has  been  met  with  at  Andrarum,  and  in  the  silver 
mine  of  Kongsberg  in  Norway ;  at  Lublin  in  Galicia  ; 
and  at  Buxton  in  Derbyshire. 


STRONTIAN. 

Strontiao,  when  pure,  is  white,  and  possesses  a  caus- 
tic taste  :  it  has  a  strong  affinity  to  the  alkalies. 

It  consists  of  oxygen  united  with  a  base,  Strontium. 
which  much  resembles  Barium,  being  of  a  dark  grey 
colour,  and  having  much  the  appearance  of  a  metal,  but 
has  not  mucti  lustre. 

Strontian  has  never  been  found  pure  ;  but  only  com- 
bined with  the  carbonic  or  sulphuric  acid,  forming  sul- 
phate or  carbonate  of  Strontian  :  and  it  has  only  been 
detected  in  one  or  two  instances,  entering  into  the  com- 
position of  earthy  substances,  and  then  only  in  very 
small  proportions ;  and  as  it  has  not  been  found  as  a 
component  part  of  any  rock,  it  may  be  said  to  be  a  rare 
earth. 

CARBONATE  OF  STRONTIAN.      STRONTIANITE. 

It  is  of  a  greenish  or  yellowish  white,  or  of  a  green 
colour,  and  is  somewhat  harder  than  carbonate  of  Ba- 
rytes  ;  it  occurs  in  radiated  masses,  the  cavities  of  which 
are  sometimes  lined  with  acicular  crystals  :  among 
which,  regular  hexahedral  prisms  have  sometimes  been 
observed. 

Its  specific  gravity  is  3.67  ;  it  consists  of  69.5  of  Stron- 
tian, 30  of  carbonic  acid,  and  0.5  of  water  Occasion- 
ally, it  very  much  resembles  carbonate  of  barytes,  but  it 
is  not  quite  so  heavy,  and  is  somewhat  harder. 

It  was  first  discovered  at  Strontian  in  Scotland, 
whence  its  name,  in  a  vein  passing  through  gneiss,  and 
accompanied  by  galena,  heavy  spar,  calcareous  spar, 
and  iron  pyrites  :  it  has  since  been  found  in  the  lead 

M 


134       ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION,  &C. 

hills  ;  and  Humbodt  discovered  in  Peru,  a  variety  which 
is  white,  translucent,  and  radiated. 

SULPHATE  OF  STRONTIAN.*   CELESTINE. 

This  mineral  is  whitish  or  of  a  delicate  blue  ;  whence 
it  obtained  the  name  of  Celestine  :  it  occurs  in  opake 
masses,  or  fibrous,  or,  more  rarely,  crystallized  ;  the  pri- 
mitive form,  according  to  Haiiy,  is  a  right  prism  of  104° 
28'  and  15°  12',  with  rbomboidal  bases ;  he  has  noticed  8 
varieties  in  the  form  of  its  crystals.  It  is  not  so  heavy 
as  carbonate  of  Barytes,  its  specific  gravity  being  only 
somewhat  above  3  ;  and  it  is  not  quite  so  hard  as  fluor  : 
it  possesses  double  refraction.  It  consists,  according  to 
Vauquelin,  of  54  per  cent,  of  strontian,  and  46  of  sul- 
phuric acid. 

In  opake  spheroidal  masses,  it  is  found  at  Montmartre 
near  Paris,  disseminated  in  beds  of  argillaceous  marl, 
separating  beds  of  sulphate  of  lime.  This  variety  con- 
tains 8  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  lime,  and  somewhat 
less  than  1  per  cent,  of  iron.  The  fibrous  variety  of  a 
blue  colour,  is  found  in  a  plastic  clay,  at  Beuvron,  near 
Toul,  in  the  department  of  la  Meurtbe  in  France  ;  at 
Frankfort  in  Pennsylvania,  of  a  sky  blue  colour :  and  in 
Egypt.  The  spheroidal  masses  above  mentioned,  as 
well  as  specimens  from  Strontian  in  Scotland,  occasion- 
ally present  minute  crystals.  The  best  crystallized  spe- 
cimens are  said  to  be  found  at  Noto  and  Mezzara  in  Sici- 
ly, in  beds  of  sulphur,  alternating  with  beds  of  sulphate 
of  lime  :  it  also  occurs  in  beds  of  sulphur  in  Spain  ;  in 
sulphate  of  lime,  in  the  department  of  la  Meurthe  in 
France  ;  and  in  beds  of  ferruginous  marl  near  Bristol. 
sometimes  finely  crystallized. 

*  Sulphate  of  Strontian.    The  fibrous  variety  has  been  difcovered   fom< 
where  weft  of  Albany,— (Z.ew.)— and  in  one  or  two  other  places. 

'• 


ALKALINE  MINERALS. 

Including  such  as  chiefly  consist  of  an  Alkali 
united  with  an  Add. 


POTASH.* 

IT  has  already  been  remarked,  in  noticing  the  alkalies 
generally,  that  potash  is  not  a  simple  body ;  that  it  con- 
sists of  oxygen  united  with  a  base  (Potassium,)  which 
bears  a  strong  affinity,  in  certain  respects,  to  the  metals; 
and  that  it  much  resembles  quicksilver,  but  is  lighter 
than  water. 

Potash  is  constituted  of  about  17  per  cent,  of  oxygen3 
united  with  about  80  per  cent,  of  potassium. 

It  is  found  in  the  mineral  kingdom,  entering  into  com- 
bination in  at  least  15  earthy  compounds  ;  amongst 
which  are  felspar  and  mica,  two  principal  ingredients  of 

*  Potash.  The  preparation  of  Potato  in  New- York,  by  burning  wood 
and  letching  the  alhes,  has  furnilhed  a  body  of  inftructive  facts.  I  here 
flate  the  refult  of  much  careful  inquiry  • 

A  bufhel  of  wood-aihes  ufually  weighs  about  60  Ibs.  and  it  requires  500 
bumels  of  aihe^,  or  500X60=30000  Ibs.  to  mak^a  ton,  or  zooo  Ibs.  of 
marketable  potafh.  Thus,  no  more  than  i- 15  th^of  the  alhes  is  vegetable 
alkaline  fait.  Of  courfe,  a  bushel  ot  afb.es  affords  4lbs  of  alkali. 

A  cord  of  wood  weighs  about  3000  Ibs.  and  fo  little  folid  matter  is  left 
after  burning,  that  fuch  a  pile  of  wood  v/ill  not  yield  more  than  ico  Ibs. 
of  afhes,  or  6f  Ibs.  of  alkali.  So  much  of  the  matter  of  wood  is  con- 
verted to  gas,  or  efcapes  in  vapour  by  the  action  of  fire,  that  only  i-3Oth 
remains  behind  in  the  form  of  afhes. 

By  this  calculation  it  appears  that  i-45Oth  part  of  the  weight  of  wood, 
before  incineration,  is  potafli  ;  and  it  follows  that  300  cords  of  wood,  or 
wood  to  the  weight  of  900000  Ibs.  muft  be  burned  to  make  a  ton  of  potafh. 

All  kinds  of  wood  are  not  capable  of  affording  this  amount  of  potash.— 
There  are  fome  forts,  fuch  as  cedar,  pine,  and  generally  the  wood  of  trees 
abounding  in  gum  or  refin,  which  afford  little  or  none  of  this  alkali : 
But  birch,  maple,  baffwocd,  oak  and  hickory,  yield  potafli  of  the  best 
quality,  and  in  the  greatest  quantity. 


136  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

the  oldest  of  the  primitive  rocks ;  it  likewise  occurs  in  5 
others  combined  with  soda ;  therefore  the  term  vegeta- 
ble alkali,  as  applied  to  potash,  is  not  correct,  although 
it  is  procured  in  the  greatest  abundance  from  the  com- 
bustion of  vegetable  matter  of  various  kinds. 

Potash  is  likewise  found  combined  with  the  carbonic 
and  nitric  acids. 

CARBONATE  OF  POTASH. 

Carbonate  of  potash,  in  its  various  states  of  prepara- 
tion from  different  kinds  of  vegetable  matter,  is  also  cal- 
led familiarly,  potash,  pearlash,  or  salt  of  tartar. 

The  combustion  of  vegetable  stems,  leaves  ashes  con- 
sisting of  the  earthy  and  metallic  ingredients  of  vegeta- 
bles, and  a  proportion  of  the  carbonate  of  potash.  The 
latter  is  dissolved  out  by  water,  and  being  dried,  is  the 
potash  of  commerce.  This  when  calcined,  is  called 
pearlash.  In  England  and  Ireland,  potash  is  obtained 
from  the  combustion,  principally,  of  the  common  fern; 
1000  parts  of  which,  afford  about  37  of  ashes,  and  four 
and  a  quarter  of  potash.  In  the  mountainous  forests  of 
Germany,  and  woodland  tracts  of  Poland  and  Russia,  it 
is  prepared  in  considerable  quantity.  The  British  mar- 
ket is  chiefly  supplied  from  North  America,  where  the 
employment  of  making  potash  is  subsidiary  to  clearing 
the  ground  for  agriculture.  The  tartar  that  is  deposited 
on  the  sides  of  the  casks  in  wine  countries  is,  when  soft, 
formed  into  masses,  which  being  dried  in  the  sun,  are 
afterwards  piled  upon  a  furnace  with  alternate  strata  of 
charcoal :  the  aCid.and  inflammable  matter  of  the  tartar 
is  then  burned  off,  without  fusing  the  alkaline  part, 
which  becomes  very  porous  and  perfectly  white  :  it  is 
then  dissolved  in  hot  water,  and  being  afterwards  eva- 
porated, dried,  and  slightly  calcined,  becomes  fit  for 
sale,  and  is  the  salt  of  tartar  used  in  medicine.  It  con- 
sists of  48  parts  of  potash,  43  of  carbonic  acid,  and  9  of 
water. 

It  has  long  been  a  question  among  chemists,  whethei 
the  potash  obtained  by  the  combustion  of  vegetables  is 
formed  by  this  process.,  or  whether  it  previously  existed 


TO  MINERALOGY.  137 

in  the  plant.  Some  of  the  older  eminent  chemists  were 
of  the  former  opinion,  but  the  latter  is  now  gaining 
ground. 

NITRATE    OP    POTASH.* 

Nitrate  of  potash,  Nitre,  or  Saltpetre,  is  naturally 
found  only  in  an  efflorescent  state,  in  extremely  delicate 
fibres,  and  is  very  abundant.  There  are  few  countries 
in  which  it  is  not  found  ;  it  mostly  occurs  on  the  surface 
of  the  earth  ;  never  far  beneath  it.  Old  walls,  afford- 
ing animal  or  vegetable  matter  in  a  state  of  decompo« 
sition,  dry  chalky  plains,  or  sands  containing  carbonated 
lime,  are  frequently  covered  by  it  Argillaceous  earths, 
or  pure  sand,  never  contain  it ;  whence  it  seems  proba- 
ble that  lime  is  essential  to  its  composition,  and  that 
during  its  spotaneous  formation,  it  absorbs  at  least  one 
of  its  principles  from  the  atmosphere. 

Nitre  is  occasionally,  though  rarely,  found  in  water  ^ 
but  it  enters  into  the  composition  of  several  plants,  as  of 
tobacco,  the  sunflower,  hemlock,  &c.  It  consists  of 
49  parts  of  potash,  33  of  nitric  acid,  and  18  of  water. 

it  is  found  on  many  of  the  plains  of  Spain;  and  on 
the  chalk  near  Evreux  in  France,  from  which  it  is  ga- 
thered 7  or  8  times  every  year;  and  in  the  deep  grottos 
of  Mont  Horn  burg,  in  Germany.  In  Italy  it  is  afforded 

Nitrate  of  Potash.  A  native  earth  is  faid  to  cxift  on  one  of  the  South- 
ern branches  of  the  river  Potomac,  in  Maryland,  bordering  on  Virginia, 
from  which  Saltpetre  is  manufactured.  The  material  was  rufty  or  reddilh 
brown,  and  foft  enough  to  be  fcraped  by  the  finger-nail.  The  bafe  feemcd 
to  be  a  botar  or  argillaceous  earth.  On  powdering  fome  of  it,  and  adding 
iulphuric  acid,  I  was  faluted  by  the  fumes  of  the  nitrous  acid. — (Law,  in 
Med.  Repos.  Vol.  12,  p.  296. 

Native  falt-petre  exiils  in  Kentucky  affociated  with  particles  of  quartz 
and  fand-rock.  Of  this,  it  is  reported  there  are  extenfive  ftrata,  horizon- 
tally difpofed.  In  the  fpecimens  I  have  feen,  the  fait  petre  feenied  to  be 
uiftributed  thrqugh  the  whole  rocky  mafs,  to  cement  the  filicious  particles 
together,  and  to  afliil  their  coherence.  Though  in  fome  parts,  the  falt- 
petre  filled  up  fiffures  between  the  parallel  layers  of  the  land-rock,  and 
occupied  in  like  manner  veins  and  cracks  acrofs  the  strata. 

The  falt-petre  caves  of  Virginia  and  Kentucky  have  been  mentioned 
already.  The  eftimate  of  their  product  is  highly  confoling  to  our  country ,v 
Their  hiftory  as  well  as  that  of  the  fahpetrous  fand  rocks  afford  curious 
problems  for  chemifts  to  folve.— (firoivn,  6  Trans.  Am.  Pbilos.  Soe.  I£ 
Med.  Repos.  p.  367. 

Thus  Poufti  is  a  mineral  as  well  as  a  vegetable  alkali, 

M  2 


13Q  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

by  the  calcareous  soil  of  Molfetta.  Hungary,  the  Uk- 
raine, and  Podolia,  furnish  Europe  with  abundance  of 
nitre.  In  Arabia  it  occurs  in  a  valley  between  Mount 
Sinai  and  Suez.  Persia  affords  it,  and  it  is  very  com- 
mon in  India,  especially  in  a  large  plain  about  60  miles 
from  Agra  in  Bengal,  which  is  said  to  have  been  formerly 
well  peopled.  It  is  found  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
The  Mountainous  regions  of  Kentucky,  which  are  cal- 
careous and  full  of  caverns,  afford  it  to  the  inhabitants 
of  North  America.  In  South  America,  the  plains  bor- 
dering the  sea,  near  Lima,  are  covered  with  it. 

But  nitre  is  not  naturally  produced  in  sufficient  quan- 
tity for  its  multiplied  uses.  It  is  therefore  procured  ar- 
tificially. In  order  to  this,  heaps  of  Rubbish,  of  plas- 
ter and  of  earth,  with  dung  and  other  vegetable  matter, 
are  placed  under  sheds ;  these  are  moistened  with  vari- 
ous animal  fluids,  as  blood,  &c.  and  the  mass  is  then 
exposed  to  rot  in  the  air.  The  consequence  seems  to 
be,  that  the  azote  disengaged  by  the  putrefaction  of  the 
animal  matter,  combines  with  the  oxygen  of  the  atmos- 
phere, producing  nitric  acid  ;  which,  by  uniting  with 
the  potash  of  the  vegetable  matter,  forms  nitre.  This  is 
afterwards  purified. 

Nitre  is  employed  in  medicine,  the  arts,  and  in  me- 
tallurgy, for  assisting  the  processes  of  oxidating  and 
smelting;  but  its  principal  if  not  its  chief  use  is  in  the 
manufacture  of  gunpowder,  for  which  that  imported 
from  Egypt  is  the  most  esteemed,  as  it  contains  least  cal- 
careous matter.  Gunpowder  consists  of  76  parts  of  nitre, 
9  of  sulphur,  and  15  of  light  charcoal. 


SODA. 

Soda  is  not  a  simple,  elementary  body,  but  a  com- 
pound, consisting  of  oxygen  united  with  a  base  (Sodium), 
which  possesses  several  characters  common  to  the  me- 


TO    MINERALOGY.  139 

tals  ;  it  most  resembles  silver,  but  is  lighter  than  water. 
Soda  consists  of  about  22^.  of  oxygen,  and  774-  of  so- 
dium. 

Soda  is  no  where  found  in  the  pure  state ;  it  enters 
into  combination  in  about  12  earthy  minerals  already 
described,  in  proportions  vary  ing  from  1  to  35  per  cent. ; 
and  is  met  with  in  5  others  combined  with  potash. 

Soda  is  found  both  in  the  mineral  and  vegetable 
kingdoms  ;  it  occurs  combined  with  the  carbonic,  sul- 
phuric, boracic,  and  muriatic  acids  ;  forming  carbonate, 
sulphate,  borate,  and  muriate  of  soda. 

CARBONATE    OF    SODA.* 

Carbonate  of  soda  is  both  mineral  and  vegetable. 
When  mineral,  it  is  met  with  either  dissolved  in  the 
water  of  certain  hot  springs,  as  those  of  Carlsbad  in 
Bohemia,  and  Rykum  in  Iceland,  or  in  certain  lakes, 
as  in  Egypt  and  Hungary  ;  or  in  the  state  of  a  solid 
salt  found  beneath  the  surface  of  the  soil  : — when 
vegetable,  it  has  been  found  to  exist  ready  formed  in 
the  plant  called  Salsola  Soda,  and  in  certain  sea  weeds. 
It  is  procured  from  both  these  sources.  Pure  carbonate 
of  soda  by  analysis  yields  22  of  soda,  15  of  carbonic 
acici,  62  of  water. 

Carbonate  of  soda  is  found  in  the  natural  state  nearly 
compact,  but  somewhat  striated,  between  Tripoli  and 
Fezzan  in  Africa;  and  according  to  Dr.  D.  Munro,  in 
a  stratum  only  one  inch  thick,  in  contact,  both  above 
and  below,  with  muriate  of  soda  (common  salt).  It  is 
collected  to  the  amount  of  hundreds  of  tons  annually.  It 
is  called  Trona*  It  rarely  reaches  Europe.  Trona 

*  Several  species  of  .maritime  plants,  particularly  of  Salsola  or  Glass- 
wort,  on  being  reduced  to  allies  by  fire,  afford  a  Kelp,  or  mass  of  afhes 
replete  with  Soda. 

This  same  alkali  ha*  alfo  been  prepared  by  the  burning  of  certain  ma- 
rine vegetables,  such  as  the  fuel  and  ulvx  that  grow  upon  the  rocks  under 
Salt  water. 

A  fample  of  fait,  brought  to  me  from  a  well  in  one  of  the  Saline  districts 
of  Kentucky,  was  a  mixture  of  Carbonate  of  Soda  vtfrh  muriate  of  Soda  ; 
of  which  the  quantity  of  the  former  was  so  considerable  as  to  render  it  un- 
fit for  seasoning  and  curing  provisions  The  water  from  which  these  Salts 
were  extracted  may  be  compared  to  the  Nitrian  pools  of  Egypt. 

Soda  therefore,  like  potash,  is  both  a  vegetable  and  a  mineral  alkali. 


140  ELEMENTARY*  INTRODUCTION 

consists  of  37  soda,  38  carbonic  acid,  22f  water,  2f 
sulphate  of  soda. 

The  mineral  carbonate  of  soda  called  Ala/row,  is  pro- 
cured from  the  lakes  of  Egypt  and  Hungary.  The  for- 
mer are  six  in  number,  situated  in  a  barren  valley,  called 
Bahr-bela-ma,  about  33  miles  westward  of  the  Delta. 
The  soil  consists  of  calcareous  rock,  mixed  with  gyp- 
sum and  covered  with  sand.  These  lakes  contain  both 
the  muriate  and  carbonate  of  soda,  and  the  edges  of  the 
lakes  are  surrounded  by  a  band  some  yards  in  breadth, 
of  these  substances,  chiefly  of  the  latter;  but  the  prin- 
cipal accumulation  is  at  a  little  distance  from  the  bank, 
It  is  taken  out  and  exported  in  that  impure  state. 

The  lakes  of  Hungary  are  four  in  number,  arid  lie 
between  Dobritzin  and  Groswaradin  ;  they  are  much 
neglected.  The  soil  is  a  stiff  blue  clay  covered  by  white 
calcareous  sand.  The  lakes  are  from  one  to  two  miles 
in  circumference,  and  in  the  winter  are  full  of  water : 
about  April  they  are  generally  dry,  and  the  saline  efflo- 
rescences of  natron,  mixed  with  a  little  sulphate  of  soda, 
appear ;  which,  being  gathered,  re-appear  in  three  or 
four  days  ;  this  kind  of  harvest  continues  till  towards  the 
end  of  October,  when  winter  begins,  and  the  lakes  be- 
come full  of  water.  The  Natron,  both  of  Egypt  and 
Hungary,  is  imported  in  pulverulent  masses  of  a  tiirty 
grey  colour. 

The  Natron  of  Egypt  yields  by  analysis  about  32  of 
carbonate  of  soda,  21  of  sulphate  of  soda,  15  of  muriate 
of  soda,  and  32  of  water.  That  of  Hungary  is  compo- 
sed of  the  same  salts,  but  varies  in  respect  of  their  pro- 
portions. 

Vegetable  carbonate  of  soda  is  of  two  kinds,  Barilla 
and  Kelp.  The  former  is  the  residuum  left  after  the 
combustion  of  the  plants,  salsola  soda,  salicornia,  &c, 
which  are  cultivated  by  the  Spaniards  on  the  coast  of  the 
Mediterranean.  The  sea  water  is  occasionally  admitted 
to  these  plantations*  When  the  seed  is  ripe  the  plant 
is  cut  down,  the  seed  rubbed  out,  and  the  plant  is  burnt 
in  a  furnace.  Kelp  is  made  from  sea  weeds,  principally 
from  the  leafy  fuei,  vesiculosus  and  serratus,  which  grow 
«n  rocks  between  high  and  low  water  marks.  These 
plants  are  gathered  on  the  shores  of  Britain  and  othes 


TO  MINERALOGY.  141 

countries  from  May  to  August,  and  after  being  dried, 
are  burnt  in  pits ;  during  combustion  the  mass  becomes 
fluid,  and  when  cold  is  broken  into  large  pieces,  for  sale. 
It  is  very  impure  :  the  proportion  of  pure  soda  contain- 
ed in  the  mass,  varies  from  one  and  a  half,  to  5  per  cent. 

SULPHATE  OF  SODA.^ 

Sulphate  of  Soda  is  found  in  an  efflorescent  state,  of 
a  yellowish  or  greyish  white  colour,  or  in  an  earthy 
form,  or  more  commonly  dissolved  iii  certain  mineral 
waters  :  it  is  of  a  bitter  saline  taste,  and  is  most  com- 
monly met  with  in  the  neighbourhood  of  rock-salt  or  brine 
springs.  It  consists  of  27  of  sulphuric  acid,  15  of  soda, 
and  58  of  water. 

Sulphate  of  Soda  is  found  in  many  of  the  lakes  of 
Austria,  Lower  Hungary,  Siberia,  and  Russia,  and  in 
Switzerland  ;  near  Madrid  in  Spain  it  occurs  in  efflores- 
cences at  the  bottom  of  a  ravine,  and  it  is  said  to  form 
an  ingredient  of  the  waters  of  the  Tagus.  It  has  been 
found  in  the  workings  of  old  mines  near  Grenoble  in 
France,  and  sometimes  on  old  walls  in  the  same  manner 
as  nitre.  It  is  also  found  in  the  ashes  of  some  vegetables, 
especially  of  sea-weeds,  of  the  tamarind,  and  of  some 
kinds  of  turf;  and  is  therefore  not  an  uncommon  sub- 
stance. When  purified  of  the  iron  with  which  it  is  usu- 
ally tinged  in  the  native  state,  or  when  prepared  artifi- 
cially, it  is  used  in  medicine  under  the  name  of  Glauber's 
Salt. 

BORATE  OF  SODA. 

Borate  of  Soda,  or  Borax,  is  chiefly,  if  not  only, 
brought  from  Thibet,  where  it  is  procured  from  a  lake 
which  is  entirely  supplied  by  springs,  and  is  fifteen  days 
journey  from  Tisoolumbo  the  capital.  The  water  con- 
tains both  borax  and  common  salt,  and  being  in  a  very 
high  situation,  is  frozen  the  greater  part  of  the  year. — ' 

*  Sulphate  of  Soda  has  been  found  native  in  fomc  of  the  Limestone  Ca- 
verns. Alfo,  in  the  preparation  of  fea-falt  from  ocean-water  :  (this  article 
has  been  procured  in  large  quantity.)  Glauber's  fait  therefore  is  an  ingre- 
dient in  the  liquid  of  the  fea. 


142 


ELEMENTARV    INTRODUCTION 


The  edges  and  shallows  of  the  lake  are  covered  with  a 
stratum  of  borax,  which  is  dug  up  in  considerable  masses, 
and  the  holes  thus  made  are  gradually  filled  by  a  fresh 
deposition  :  from  the  deeper  parts  of  the  lake,  common 
salt  is  procured.  The  borax  in  its  rough  state  is  called 
Tincal,  and  is  brought  to  Europe  in  the  form  of  a  brown- 
ish grey  impure  salt ;  or  in  detached  crystals  about  an  inch 
in  length,  of  a  pale  greenish  hue,  arid  in  the  form  of 
compressed  hexahedral  prisms. 

But  it  is  said  also  to  be  found  in  the  island  of  Ceylon, 
in  Tartary,  in  Transylvania,  and  in  Lower  Saxony,  and 
abundantly  in  the  province  of  Potosi  in  Peru. 

The  purification  of  Borax  is  an  art  confined  only  to  a 
few  chemists  :  when  pure  it  consists  of  34  parts  of  bora- 
cic  acid,  17  of  soda,  and  47  of  water. 

MURIATE  OF  SODA.*     HOCK  SALT.     COMMON  SALT. 

Rock  Salt  is  found  in  beds  or  masses  ;  sometimes 
crystallized  in  the  form  of  the  cube,  which  is  that  of  its 
primitive  crystal,  and  into  which  pure  Rock  Salt  may 

readily  be  cleaved  ;  when  impure,  as  when  its  brown  co- 

• 

*  Common  fait  has  been  prepared  from  sea-water  in  various  places, 
very  pure,  elegantly  crystallized  and  of  great  purity.  The  water  is 
feparated  by  fpontaneou&  evaporation,  and  the  salt  left  behind  to  concrete 
in  shallow  pans. 

The  fait  fprings  in  the  internal  parts  of  the  Fredish  ftates  and  territories, 
are  numerous  and  in  feveral  places  very  rich  in  muriate  of  foda. 

In  New  York,  thofe  of  Salina,  Montezuma,  and  Galen,  are  among  the 
moft  diftinguifhed,  and  afford  inexhauftible  quantities  of  excellent  Salt. 
The  Onondaga  Lake,  which  receives  the  wafer  of  the  .^alina-Springs,  has 
on  that  account,  been  Ibmetimes  called  the  fait- lake,  (bee  Deivitt  in  tie 
Trans,  of  the  Society  for  the  promotion  of  arts,  and  Med.  Repof*  Vol.  2.)  In 
Indiana,  there  are  fait  fprings  of  great  importance,  to  the  inhabitants  near 
the  Wabafh.  (Acts  of  Congrets.) 

In  Virginia,  Prefton's  falt-wells  afford  a  fupply  for  the  adjacent  region, 
and  appear  to  be  inexhauftible. 

In  Kentucky  the  falt-fprings  and  fait- licks,  are  a  very  remarkable  fea- 
ture in  that  curious  and  interefting  fection  of  our  country. 

In  Upper  Louifiana  the  falines  or  fait  prairies,  or  fait  plains  near  the 
northern  fources  of  the  Arkanfa  excite  the  attention  of  all  vifitors  and 
travellers  The  foil  in  many  parts  of  the  extenfive  tracts  fituated  between 
the  Miffouri  and  the  Arkanfa,  is  faid  to  be  fo  highly  impregnated  with  falts 
that  frefh  water  to  drink  is  a  rarity. 

It  may  be  rationally  prefumed  that  thefe  fprings  and  others  not  herein 
enumerated,  are  fed  by  ftrata  or  depofits  of  rock-falt,  forming  ftrata  below. 
Water  running  over  fuch  thick  and  folid  mafies  of  felt,  carries  away  a 


TO  MINERALOGY.  143 

I-our  is  derived  from  an  intermixture  of  clay,  its  structure 
is  less  deterrninately  lamellar ;  its  lustre  is  shining  or  vi- 
treous ;  it  is  either  translucent  or  transparent,  and  its  co- 
lour is  very  various,  as  white,  grey,  reddish  brown,  brick 
red,  violet,  blue,  and  green.  It  yields  easily  to  the 
knife  ;  'its  specific  gravity  is  2.54  ;  pure  muriate  of  soda, 
according  to  Berzelius,  is  composed  of  46.55  of  muriatic 
acid,  and  53.44  of  soda.  Rock  Salt,  according  to  Kir- 
wan,  is  composed  of  33  of  muriatic  acid,  50  of  soda,  and 
17  of  water  :  when  of  any  of  the  forementioned  colours, 
it  is  always  somewhat  impure.  It  is  sometimes,  though 
not  often,  of  a  fibrous  texture. 

Muriate  of  Soda  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  substan- 
ces in  nature  ;  not  only  is  it  found  in  large  beds  and  mas- 
ses, but  also  in  the  waters  of  certain  springs  and  lakes  ; 
and  in  those  of  every  sea.  It  forms  about  one-thirtieth 
part  of  the  waters  of  the  Ocean. 

Salt,  or  Brine  Sp?*ings  are  not  found  in  primitive 
countries  ;  but  generally  arise  from  the  newer  seconda- 
ry :  nevertheless  they  are  said  never  to  be  far  distant 
from  the  chains  of  primitive  mountains  :  they  are  found 
at  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  the  Vosges,  the  Pyrenees,  the 
Carpathian  mountains,  &ic.  ;  those  of  Droitwich,  in  our 
own  country,  are  surrounded  by  a  brownish  red  sand- 
stone, which  is  considered  to  be  the  old  red  sandstone 
of  Werner.  So  immense  is  the  quantity  which  rises 
from  the  fourpits,*which  are  sunk  through  various  kinds 
of  soil,  rock,  and  gypsum,  that,  although  that  which  is 
used  bears  but  a  small  proportion  to  that  which  runs  to 
waste,  the  quantity  of  salt  annually  made  from  them 
amounts  to  about  16,000  tons.  Salt  springs  are  said  to 
arise  in  countries  in  which  no  deposition  of  Rock  salt 
has  been  discovered  ,  the  brine  commonly  contains  some 
portions  of  certain  other  salts,  as  sulphate  of  soda,  and 

part  of  it.  When  the  brine  runs  away,  there  is  faid  to  be  a  falt-fpring ; 
when  it  is  ftagnant  and  reached  only  by  digging,  ittconftitutes  a  falt-well. 
The  fuppofed  beds  of  rock-falt  fupplying  the  fprings  and  wells,  were  pro- 
bably derelictions  of  the  i'alt  ocean  which  originally  covered  the  whole  of 
North  America,  or  of  the  fait  lakes  that  continued  to  cover  extenfive 
tracts  of  that  continent,  after  the  primitive  ocean  had  retired.  The  rea- 
fons  for  this  opinion  may  be  feen  in  my  memoir  on  the  organic  remains 
which  were  depofited  during  thofe  periods,  and  that  have  come  to  view 
flnce  the  waters  retired  to  their  prefent  refervoirs, 


144  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

sulphate  of  lime,  &c.  and  it  has  been  remarked  in  re- 
gard  to  some  springs,  that  the  quantity  of  brine  always 
increases  after  heavy  rains. 

Rock  Salt  is  commonly  disposed  in  thick  beds  ;  either 
superficial,  as  in  Africa,  or  of  a  very  great  depth,  as  in 
Poland :  sometimes  they  are  very  high  above  tlfe  level 
of  the  sea,  as  in  the  Cordilleras  of  America,  and  also  in 
Savoy ;  where  they  are  found  at  an  elevation  equal  to 
that  of  perpetual  snow.  In  Spain,  Rock  salt  occurs  in 
vast  masses,  which  seem  to  be  isolated. 

Sulphate  of  lime,  or  gypsum,  almost  always  accom- 
panies Rock  salt ;  and  is  sometimes  so  impregnated  by 
it,  as  to  be  worked  as  a  Salt  mine,  as  at  Arbonne  in 
Savoy. 

Red  or  greyish  clay  frequently  alternates  in  beds  with 
Rock  salt ;  but  blocks  or  masses  of  clay  are  said  more 
often  to  be  enclosed  in  it:  when  in  beds  the  clay  is  ac- 
companied by  sand,  grit-stone,  and  rounded  pebbles, 
and  by  compact  carbonate  of  lime,  which  is  sometimes 
fetid,  sometimes  bituminous.  Rock  salt  commonly 
rests  upon  sulphate  of  lime,  and  is  covered  by  car- 
bonate of  lime.  In  the  beds  of  various  substances 
which  accompany  it,  are  sometimes  found  the  remains 
of  organized  bodies,  the  bones  of  elephants  and  other 
mammalia,  carbonized  wood,  fossil- shells,  and  bitu- 
men ;  and  frequently  masses  of  sulphur  are  found  in  the 
sulphate  or  carbonate  of  lime. 

Several  countries  in  Europe  abound  in  Rock  salt  and 
Salt  springs ;  Spain,  Germany,  Italy,  part  of  Russia, 
&c. ;  in  England  in  Worcestershire  and  Cheshire  ;  in 
France  there  are  many  Salt  springs,  but  no  known  de- 
posite  of  salt,  Sweden  and  Norway  are  without  salt. 
It  is  abundantly  found  in  many  countries  of  Asia,  Africa, 
and  America. 


TO  MINERALOGY,  145 


AMMONIA. 

Ammonia,  or  Volatile  Alkali,  when  pure,  subsists  in  a 
gaseous  form.  It  is  commonly  believed  to  consist  of 
hydrogen  and  nitrogen;  but  some  experiments  of 
Sir  H.  Davy  have  induced  the  suspicion  that  it  contains 
7  or  8  per  cent,  of  oxygen. 

It  is  only  found  combined  with  the  sulphuric  and 
muriatic  acids ;  forming  sulphate  and  muriate  of  am- 
monia. 

SULPHATE  OF   AMMONIA. 

Sulphate  of  Ammonia  has  an  acrid,  bitter  taste.  It 
occurs  in  the  form  of  stalactites,  of  a  yellowish  colour, 
and  covered  by  a  whitish,  farina-like  dust,  which  are 
found  in  the  fissures  of  the  earth  surrounding  certain 
small  lakes  near  Sienna  in  Tuscany.  It  consists  of  40 
per  cent,  of  ammonia,  42  of  sulphuric  acid,  and  18  of 
water. 

MURIATE  OF  AMMONIA.       SAL  AMMONIAC. 

The  Muriate  of  Ammonia  is  not  abundant ;  it  chiefly 
appears  in  efflorescence  of  a  greyish  white,  yellowish, 
apple  green,  or  brownish  black  colour;  but  sometimes 
occurs  in  small  crystals  which  are  not  very  determinate, 
It  consists  of  40  per  cent,  of  ammonia,  52  of  muriatic 
acid,  and  8  of  water 

This  salt  is  characterized  by  its  insolubility  in  water, 
and  by  the  amrnoniacal  odour  which  it  gives  out  when 
triturated  with  lime,  better  than  by  any  of  its  external 
characters.  It  sometimes  exists  in  the  substances  which 
enclose  it,  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  be  without  the  reach 
of  the  eye  or  the  feel. 

It  is  principally  found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  volca- 
noes, sublimed  in  the  cracks  of  lava,  among  other  vola- 
tile matters  near  their  craters.  It  thus  occurs  in  the 
lavas  of  Etna  and  Vesuvius.  At  Solfatara  it  escapes  in 

N 


140  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

bubbles,  which  are  caught  and  condensed  in  long  earthen 
pipes.  It  is  said  to  appear  in  efflorescences  on  certain 
rocks  in  Turquestan  in  Persia,  in  Calmuc  Tartary,  Bu- 
charia  and  Siberia ;  in  some  lakes  of  Tuscany,  and  cer- 
tain Springs  of  Germany ;  and  in  some  English  coal, 
especially  that  of  Newcastle. 

Volatile  alkali  is  obtained  from  Muriate  of  Ammonia. 
The  Sal  Ammoniac  of  commerce  is  chiefly  brought  from 
Egypt,  where  the  soot  proceeding  from  the  combus- 
tion of  the  excrements  of  certain  ruminating  animals 
who  feed  on  saline  plants,  is  collected  in  chimnies, 
whence  the  soot  is  taken  and  placed  in  large  glass  ves- 
sels :  it  is  then  heated  sufficiently  to  drive  off  the  mu- 
riate of  ammonia,  which  is  sublimed,  and  attaches  itself 
to  the  upper  edges  of  the  vessel  in  cakes,  which  are  al- 
ways, in  some  degree,  tinged  by  the  soot ;  in  this  state 
it  is  sometimes  preferred  for  use  in  the  arts.  The  soot 
affords  nearly  one  third  its  weight  of  Sal  ammoniac. 

It  is  obtained  in  various  parts  of  Europe  by  the  dis- 
tillation of  animal  matter. 

It  is  used  in  medicine,  and  in  the  art?. 


NATIVE  METALS 

AND 

METALLIFEROUS  MINERALS: 

Including  such  Metals  as  occur  nearly  pure,  or 
combined  with  oxygen,  or  sulphur^  or  one  or 
more  of  the  acids ;  together  with  those  compound 
substances  commonly  denominated  Metalliferous 
ores. 


IRON.* 

PURE  Iron  is  of  a  bluish  grey  colour,  and  has  a  granu- 
lar texture ;  it  is  hard,  ductile,  and  malleable,  and  is 
the  most  tenacious  of  metals  next  to  gold.  Like  cobalt 
and  nickel,  it  is  magnetic  ;  and  so  readily  is  polarity 
acquired  by  iron,  that  a  bar  remaining  a  long  time  in  a 
vertical  position,  or  even  approaching  to  it,  becomes 
magnetic.  The  northern  pole  is  always  at  the  lower 
extremity.  The  specific  gravity  of  iron  is  about  7. 

Iron  is  an  ingredient  of  mica,  which  enters  largely 
into  the  composition  of  some  of  the  oldest  and  most 
abundant  primitive  rocks  ;  and  being  found  in  all  soils, 
and  in  almost  every  rock,  it  is  therefore  considered  to 
be  the  most  generally  diffused  substance  in  nature.  It 
has  been  met  with  in  the  nearly  pure  metallic  state  in 
considerable  masses,  reputed  to  have  fallen  from  the  at- 
mosphere ;  but  these  masses  are  generally  alloyed  by 

Jro/j.— Iron  is  found  abundantly  in  the  United  States ;  in  the  veins  of 
the  primitive  and  tranfition  rocks  of  New- York  and  New-Jerfey  ;  and  in, 
fecondary  and  alluvial  tracts  of  both  thefe  States,  and  of  feveralx>thers. 


148  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

nickel.  Native  Iron  is  also  said  to  have  been  found  dis- 
seminated in  certain  metalliferous  veins.  The  ores  of 
iron  are  very  numerous ;  it  occurs  combined  with  sul- 
phur, oxygen,  the  oxides  of  titanium,  manganese,  and 
chrome  ;  the  phosphoric,  sulphuric,  carbonic,  and  arse- 
nic acids ;  with  silex,  alumine,  lime,  and  with  water. 
Mineralogists  are  not  well  agreed  either  in  respect  of  the 
names  or  the  arrangement  of  the  ores  of  Iron. 

The  ores  of  Iron,  which  are  of  a  dark  brown  or  black 
colour,  and  in  which  the  iron  is  considered  to  be  com- 
bined with  a  small  proportion  of  oxygen,  such  as  the 
magnetic  and  brown  iron  ores,  belong  chiefly,  though 
not  exclusively,  to  primitive  countries  :  they  often  form 
an  integral  part  of  primitive  rocks. 

The  Red  Iron  ores  chiefly  belong  to  secondary  and 
alluvial  countries  ;  they  are  occasionally  met  with  in  the 
veins  of  primitive  mountains,  but  are  not  found  entering 
into  the  composition  of  primitive  rocks. 

The  red  and  argillaceous  varieties,  but  particularly 
the  latter,  it  is  remarkable,  are  generally  found  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  coal,  so  essential  to  their  reduction 
~icrtue  metallic  state  ;  either  resting  on  the  coal  or  filling 
up  the  fissures  in  it.  Iron  ore  is  thus  found  in  the  col- 
lieries of  Glamorgan,  ofMonmouth,  Staffordshire,  Shrop- 
shire, and  of  those  of  Carron  in  Scotland. 

It  would  be  vain  to  attempt  the  enumeration  of  the 
uses  to  which  iron  is  put  by  man.  Steel  is  an  artificial 
combination  of  iron  with  carbon.  The  brown  colour 
used  in  Porcelain  painting  is  oxide  of  iron. 

An  ore,  in  which  iron  is  combined  with  alumine,  is 
used  in  the  making  of  what  are  termed  red  lead  pencils. 
Plumbago,  or  black  lead,  is  a  natural  compound  of  iron, 
with  a  large  proportion  of  carbon. 

NATIVE  IRON. 

Native  Iron  is  said  to  have  been  found  in  veins. 
- ;a»  ''.'-  Scrieber  mentions  having  met  with  it  in  the  form  of  a 
ramose  stalactite  covered  by  brown  fibrous  oxide  of  iron, 
mingled  with  quartz  and  clay,  in  a  vein  traversing  the 
mountain  of  gneiss,  called  Ouile,  near  Grenoble  in, 
France. 


TO  MINER ALOGF.  140 

Bergman  cites  instances  of  malleable  iron  having  been 
found  in  a  gangue  of  brown  garnets,  near  Steinbach  in 
Saxony. 

Lehman  says  that  it  was  found  in  a  vein  at  Eibestock 
in  Saxony. 

Karsten  describes  a  brown  oxide  of  iron  mingled  with 
spathose  iron  and  sulphate  of  barytes,  which  contained 
native  iron  disseminated  through  the  mass.  It  was  found 
at  Kamsdorf ;  and  consisted  of  about  92£  parts  of  iron, 
6  of  lead,  and  li  of  copper. 

NATIVE  METEORIC  IRON.^ 

Native  Meteoric  Iron  is  somewhat  paler  and  lighter 
than  common  metallic  iron,  and  is  often  more  mallea- 
ble :  it  is  supposed  that  its  colour  and  superior  mallea- 
bility may  be  owing  to  a  small  portion  of  nickel  combi- 
ned with  it,  and  that  its  lightness  is  owing  to  the  very 
numerous  minute  ceils  observable  in  it.  It  is  magnetic, 
flexible,  and  cellular;  the  cells  are  occasionally  filled  by 
a  yellowish  and  translucent  substance,  of  a  somewhat  resi- 
nous appearance,  by  some  considered  as  a  variety  of  olivin. 

Meteoric  Iron  has  been  fount!  in  different  quarters  of 
the  globe  ;  in  Bohemia,  in  Senegal,  in  South  America,, 
and  in  Siberia ;  of  the  latter  we  have  the  best  account. 
It  was  found  by  professor  Pallas  on  the  top  of  a  moun- 
tain, on  which  there  was  a  considerable  bed  of  magnetic 
iron-stone,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Jenisei.  It  weighed 

*  Native  Meteoric  Iron.— In  the  New- York  Inftitution  Col.  Gibbs  has 
placed  a  mafs  of  nacive  iron,  brought  from  one  of  the  weftern  branches 
of  the  Red  River,  in  Louifiana.  It  weighs  3000  Ibs.  Its  greateft  length 
exceeds  three  feet,  and  its  greateft  breadth  amounts  to  about  two  and  a 
half  feet.  Its  exterior  furface  is  irregular,  abounding  in  elevations  and  de- 

preflions (Med.  Repos.  vol.  \5,f.  88,  and -vol.  i6,f.  424.)  Pieces  have 

been  liberally  beftowed  on  curious  individuals  and  mufeums.  It  is  perfectly 
malleable,  and  feveral  articles  hammered  out  of  pieces  directly  from  the 
mafs,  are  in  my  poffcffion.  Its  outfide  is  covered  with  a  blackifh  cruft, 
on  the  removal  of  which  the  bright  metal  foon  becomes  oxyded  again.  It 
appears  to  be  remarkably  pure,  containing  neither  nickel  nor  any  other 
metal. — (Amer.  Min.  Jour.  p.  124.) 

The  meteoric  ftones,  which  fell  at  Wefton,  in  Connecticut,  contained 
iron,  the  greater  part  of  which  was  in  a  perfectly  metallic  ftate.  A 
whole  ftone  attracts  the  magnet,  and  its  powder  is  attracted  by  the  mag- 
net. Portions  of  metallic  iron  may  be  feparated,  large  enough  to  be  ex- 
tended under  the  hammer.  Some  of  the  iron  is  combined  with  fulphur 
into  pyrites.  (SiMiman  and  Kingsley.) 

N2, 


150  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

1680  Russian  pounds,  and  possessed  some  of  the  impor- 
tant characters  of  pure  iron,  as  malleability  and  flexibili- 
ty, and  was  reported  by  the  inhabitants  to  have  fallen 
from  the  sky.  The  mass  found  in  the  Vice-royalty  of 
Peru  in  South  America,  was  described  by  Don  Rubin 
de  Celis  :  it  weighed  about  fifteen  tons  ;  it  was  compact 
externally,  and  was  marked  with  impressions  as  if  of 
hands  and  feet,  but  much  larger,  and  of  the  claws  of 
birds;  internally  it  presented  many  cavities  :  it  was  near- 
ly imbedded  in  white  clay,  and  the  country  round  it  was 
quite  flat  and  destitute  of  water.  Meteoric  Iron  is  alloyed 
by  about  3  parts  in  the  100  of  nickel  ;  which,  it  is  wor- 
thy of  remark,  is  also  found  by  analysis  to  be  a  consti- 
tuent part  of  all  those  stones,  which  in  various  parts  of 
the  European  Continent,  in  England,  and  in  America, 
have  been  known  to  fall  from  the  atmosphere,  and  are 
therefore  termed  meteoric  stones. 

In  the  imperial  cabinet  at  Vienna  there  is  a  very  con- 
siderable mass  of  meteoric  iron,  which  fell  from  the  at- 
mosphere in  1751  at  Hraschina,  near  Agrarn  in  Croatia, 
appearing  in  the  air  like  a  globe  of  fire.  It  consists  of 
964  per  cent,  of  iron  and  3*  of  nickel. 

The  Abbe  Haiiy  is  of  opinion  that  some  appearances 
of  crystallization  approaching  the  regular  octohedron 
be  traced  in  meteoric  iron. 


IRON  PYttlTES.         SULPHURET  OF  IRON. 

Iron  Pyrites  is  tin-white,  steel-grey,  or  of  various 
shades  of  yellow,  and  is  found  in  mass,  and  of  various 
shapes,  as  stalactitic,  nodular,  &tc.  and  crystallized.  It 
includes  several  varieties  some  of  which  greatly  resem- 
ble yellow  copper  ore,  but  may  be  readily  distinguished, 
as  the  latter  yields  to  the  knife,  which  iron  pyrites  does 
not. 

*  Iron  Pyrites.—  -This  mineral  exifh  in  primitive  and  fecondary  rocks 
abundantly  in  New-  York,  New-Jerfey  and  elfewhere,  and  is  frequent  in 
alluvial  fituationt,  It  exifts  in  cubes,  parallellopipeds,  rounded  balls,  irre- 
gular globules,  and  in  maffive  forms.  Its  colours  are  bright  yellow,  pale 
yellow,  and  brown.  Some  of  its  forms  are  permanent  ;  in  other  cafes,  it 
decoaipofes  fpontaneoufly,  and  crumbles  down. 

Pyrites  often  penetrates  wood  that  has  been  buried  long  in  the  earth 
and  carbonated.  Such  kinds  of  mineralized  timber  have  been  dug  up  on 
Long-lfland,  Staten-Ifhnd,  Waftungton  city,  and  innumerable  other  places* 


TO    MTNEP^ALOGY.  151 

One  variety,  which  affects  the  magnetic  needle,  is 
therefore  called  Magnetic  Pyrites.  It  is  not  found  crys- 
tallized ;  it  is  generally  of  a  bronze  yellow,  but  is  some- 
times brown.  Its  magnetic  property  is  supposed  to  be 
derived  from  its  containing  a  larger  proportion  of  iron 
than  common  pyrites  ;  it  consists  of  63.5  metallic  iron, 
and  36.5  of  sulphur  ;  and  its  specific  gravity  is  4.5. 

It  is  believed  to  belong  almost  exclusively  to  primi- 
tive countries.  It  is  met  with  in  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Si- 
lesia ;  at  Moel  Elion  in  Caernarvonshire,  it  occurs  with 
common  pyrites  in  a  kind  of  serpentine,  and  near 
Nantes  in  France  in  limestone. 

When  nearly  of  a  tin-white,  yellowish,  or  steel-grey, 
it  is  termed  White  Pyrites.  The  principal  difference 
between  it  and  ConTmon  Pyrites  seems  to  be,  that  the 
former  decomposes  much  easier.  The  specific  gravity 
of  the  former  is  4.7  ;  of  the  latter  4.8.  Both  are  found 
crystallized  in  the  cube,  which  is  considered  to  be  the 
form  of  the  primitive  crystal  :  the  crystals  of  common 
pyrites,  in  my  possession,  afford  38  varieties  of  form, 
which  are  very  beautiful  and  interesting.  White  and 
common  pyrites  differ  very  little  in  the  results  of  their 
analyses.  The  latter  yields  about  47i  parts  of  iron,  and 
5  If  of  sulphur.  The  former  contains  a  rather  larger 
proportion  of  sulphur. 

A  variety  is  occasionally  found  containing  both  sul- 
phur and  arsenic  ;  it  is  of  a  paler  colour  than  common 
pyrites.  The  arsenical  ore  of  iron  called  Mispickel  is 
noticed  under  the  head  Arsenic,  to  which  it  properly  be- 
longs. 

Iron  Pyrites  occurs  in  almost  every  species  of  rock.  — 
It  abounds  in  granite,  and  particularly  in  argillaceous 
schistus.  It  is  never  wrought  as  an  ore  of  iron,  but  is 
largely  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  green  vitriol  ; 
and  sulphur  is  often  procured  from  it  by  sublimation. 


MAGNETIC  IRON 

Magnetic  Iron  Ore  is  generally  of  an  iron-black  co- 

*  Magnetic  Iron  Ore.  The  Magnet  is  found  abundantly  in  the  high- 
lands of  New-  York,  near  the  Military  Academy  at  Wdft-Poim,  in  the 
primitive  formation  of  rocks.  It  is  alfo  fo  plentiful  in  the  tranfition  rocks 


152  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

lour,  with  a  slight  metallic  lustre.  It  is  found  massive, 
and  crystallized  in  some  varieties  of  the  octohedroD, 
which  is  considered  to  be  its  primitive  crystal.  It  is 
sufficiently  magnetic  to  take  up  iron  filings,  and  possesses 
polarity.  It  is  nearly  a  pure  oxide  of  iron.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  about  4.5. 

It  is  most  commonly  found  in  primitive  countries, 
generally  in  beds  and  large  masses ;  and  is  accompa- 
nied by  hornblende,  granular  limestone,  and  garnet  ; 
and  occasionally  by  blende,  all  the  varieties  of  pyrites, 
fluate  of  lime,  oxide  of  tin,  and  sulphuret  of  lead,  &c. 

The  mountains  called  Taberg  in  Swedish  Lapland, 
and  Pumachanche  in  Chili,  are  said  to  consist  almost 
entirely  of  Magnetic  Iron  Ore.  It  is  plentifully  found 
also  in  Corsica,  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Silesia,  Russia,  and 
the  East  Indies.  In  Great  Britain,  in  Cornwall,  Devon, 
and  the  Isle  of  Unst  in  the  Hebrides. 

It  exists  in  great  abundance  and  purity  at  Roslagia 
in  Sweden,  where  it  is  manufactured  into  the  best  bar 
iron,  so  much  sought  after  by  our  manufacturers  of  steel, 
though  it  affords  only  middling  cast  iron. 

Some  varieties  of  Magnetic  Iron  ore,  either  compact, 
sandy,  or  earthy,  have  been  found,  containing  from  12 
to  22  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  titanium.  The  sandy  variety 
is  found  in  angular  or  rounded  masses,  and  in  octohedrai 
crystals.  It  occurs  at  Hunstanton,  in  Norfolk  ;  in 
Agyleshire;  and  r»t  Arklow,  near  Wicklow  in  Ireland, 
with  native  gold. 

RED  IRON  ORE.*     IRON  GLANCE. 

Red  Iron  ore  presents  itself  under  many  varieties  of 
form  and  colour  ;  most  if  not  all  of  which  are  very  fee- 

«f  Sehooley's  Mountain  in  New-Jerfey,  that  furreyors  are  embarrafied  to 
find  the  true  courfe  by  the  needle  of  the  compafs.  The  load-ftone  affects 
it  very  much  in  certain  places.  Magnetical  Iron  Ore  is  found  in  many 
other  places.  Indeed,  as  the  globe  we  inhabit  exhibits  fuch  ftrong  evi- 
dence of  magnetical  attraction,  I  entertain  no  doubt  of  the  prevalence  of 
iron,  or  of  forae  other  magnetical  metal,  throughout  its  denfe  body,  efpe- 
cially  in  the  northern  hemifphere. 

*  Pieces  of  the  red  ore  of  Iron,  are  frequently  picked  up  along  the 
coafts  of  New- York.  They  are  soft  enough  to  be  employed  by  the  millers 
to  make  marks  on  barrels  of  flour,  in  addition  to  the  brands  from  hot 


TO    MINERALOGF.  153 

bly  magnetic  :  and  though  fragile,  many  of  them  are 
hard  enough  to  scratch  glass  :  they  all  afford  a  red  pow- 
der. Iron  Glance  is  considered,  by  many  mineralogists} 
to  be  an  oxide  of  iron,  but  not  one  variety  has  yet  been 
analyzed.  It  occurs  crystallized  ;  in  lamellae  ;  mica- 
ceous ;  in  scales  ;  in  globular  masses,  and  in  stalactites  ; 
also  compact  and  ochrey. 

Chrystallized  Iron  Glance  occurs  under  very  different 
circumstances.  It  is  abundantly  found  in  the  old  and 
famous  mines  of  the  Island  of  Elba,  in  very  brilliant  and 
frequently,  very  large  crystals ;  and  in  Saxony,  Bohe- 
mia, Silesia,  Switzerland,  France,  Norway,  Sweden, 
and  in  Cornwall.  It  is  also  met  with,  principally  in  irre- 
gular and  compressed  crystals,  in  the  fissures  of  the  lavas 
of  the  Pay  de  Dome  in  France,  of  Vesuvius,  also  in  the 
Lipari  islands,  and  the  volcano  of  Stromboli. 

It  affords  an  excellent  malleable  iron,  but  somewhat 
hard  ;  and  also  a  good,  but  not  the  very  best,  cast  iron. 
Its  specific  gravity  is  about  5.  ^*v; 

In  lamella  of  a  shining  metallic  lustre,  it  is  met  with 
in  Caernarvonshire,  and  at  Kskdale  in  Cumberland. 

The  micaceous  variety  is  found  piincipally  with  other 
ores  of  iron,  and  sometimes  with  coal  ;  it  occurs  in  mi- 
nute scales  of  a  reddish  black  colour,  and  unctuous  to 
the  touch.  It  is  found  in  the  Hartz,  at  Schemnitz  in 
Saxony,  &c.  and  at  Tavistock  in  Devonshire,  and  Dun- 
keld  in  Perthshire  ;  the  scaly  variety  seems  to  differ  ve- 
ry little  from  it. 

Red  Haematites  Iron  ore,  is  of  a  bluish  grey  colour, 
with  a  metallic  lustre,  and  passes  into  brownish  red  ;  it 
occurs  in  globular  and  stalactitic  masses,  which  internal- 
ly have  a  fibrous  diverging  structure  ;  and  are  sometimes 
in  concentric  layers.  Its  specific  gravity  is  nearly  5.  It 

irons.  They  were  in  all  probability  wafhed  from  the  interior  country, 
where  iron  ore  abounds,  to  the  sea  coaft,  by  the  weight  and  preffure  of 
water  that  broke  the  barriers,  and  covered  the  alluvion  of  the  ocean  with 
another  and  more  recent  alluvion  from  the  mountains. 

My  fpecimens  from  Elba,  are  diverfified  and  elegant.  Ore  of  the  crys- 
tals has  the  faces  of  a  mirror ;  and  the  fides  are  fo  bright:,  that  the  face,  the 
eye,  and  even,  a  hair  are  reflected  in  the  moft  perfect  manner  to  the  behol- 
der. Quartz,  opal,  and  (hort-afbeftos  (mineral  cow  itch)  accompanied 
my  box  of  articles. 

The  micaceous  ore  of  iron  ore  exifts  in  New- York,  Vermont,  and  va^ 
vious  other  places, 


154  ELEMENTARI  INTRODUCTION 

is  found  in  Saxony,  France,  Silesia,  and  in  England ; 
very  abundantly  at  Ulverstone  in  Lancashire  ;  and  in 
the  Forest  of  Dean  in  Gloucestershire ;  but  Norway,  and 
other  Northern  countries,  seem  almost  destitute  of  this 
variety.  It  affords  excellent  iron,  both  cast  and  mal- 
leable ;  most  of  the  plate  iron  and  iron  wire  of  England 
are  made  of  it.  When  ground  to  fine  powder,  it  is  large- 
ly employed  in  the  polishing  of  rnetal. 

The  Compact  variety  is  of  a  dark  steel-grey,  brownish, 
or  blood  red  colour,  and  is  found  in  mass,  disseminated, 
&c.  and  sometimes  in  crystals  that  have  taken  the  forms 
and  places  of  those  of  other  substances.  Jt  is  found  in 
France,  Germany,  Norway,  Siberia,  and  at  Ulverstone 
in  England,  and  occurs  both  in  primitive  and  secondary 
countries.  It  affords  good  cast  iron,  and  malleable  though 
somewhat  soft,  bar  iron. 

Reddle,  Red  Ochre,  or  Red  Chalk,  is  of  a  blood  red, 
passing  into  brownish  red.  It  is  dull,  earthy,  and  is  nearly 
without  lustre.  It  generally  accompanies  the  two  pre- 
ceding varieties.  It  is  used  in  the  arts.  Near  Platte  in 
Bohemia  it  is  smelted,  and  affords  very  excellent  mallea- 
ble iron. 


BROWN    IRON    ORE. 


Brown  iron  ore,  like  the  preceding  species,  is  found 
under  several  varieties  of  form  ;  but  does  not  resemble 
it  in  being  slightly,  magnetic  :  all  its  varieties  afford  a 
brown  powder.  It  is  riot  certain  wherein  it  differs  from 
the  Red  Iron  ore  ;  most  of  the  varieties  of  the  Brown 
Iron  ore  have  been  proved  to  contain  a  small  proportion 
of  oxide  of  manganese,  and  this  is  supposed  to  constitute 
the  difference  between  the  two  species.  It  also  occurs 
scaly  ;  in  globular  masses,  and  stalactites  ;  also  compact 
and  ochrey. 

The  scaly  variety  seems  to  differ  in  its  internal  cha- 
racters from  the  scaly  variety  of  the  red,  only  in  being 
of  a  colour  between  steel  grey  and  clove  brown. 

The  Brown  Hcematites*  is  found  under  nearly  the  same 

""*  ''.''-.'.'.  O.    '  ' 

*  A  compact  variety  of  this  ore,  containing  encrivites  and  shells  appa- 
rently of  the  fea,  was  brought  to  me  from  Oneida,  by  Gov.  D.  \V.  Clin- 


TO  MINERALOGY.  155 

circumstances,  but  not  altogether  in  the  same  countries 
as  the  red  ;  it  yields  a  better  cast  iron  than  the  brown  ; 
but  the  bar  iron  of  the  latter  is  both  very  malleable  and 
very  hard,  probably  from  the  manganese  which  it  con- 
tains ;  hence  it  yields  excellent  steel.  Though  it  is 
found  in  England,  it  does  not  occur  in  sufficient  quantity 
to  be  wrought. 

The  Compact  variety  is  found  accompanying  the  pre- 
ceding in  the  form  of  stalactites,  and  in  masses  of  vari- 
ous shapes.  It  is  remarkable  in  respect  of  its  forming 
the  substance  of  several  petrifactions,  as  of  madreporites 
and  coralites.  It  is  dull  internally. 

Brown  Iron  Ochre  also  accompanies  brown  haematites. 
It  is  destitute  of  lustre,  and  has  an  earthy  fracture  ;  it  is 
tender,  soils  the  fingers,  and  is  of  a  yellowish  brown  co- 
lour. It  does  not  contain  any  manganese. 

BLACK    IRON    ORE.* 

Black  Iron  Ore  is  a  rare  mineral  of  a  bluish  black 
colour;  ancKs  found  globular,  massive,  &c.  It  is  of  a 
fine  fibrous  diverging  structure,  and  has  a  glimmering 
and  somewhat  metallic  lustre. 

The  Compact  variety  seems  to  have  been  found  only 
in  Saxony,  Hesse,  and  some  other  parts  of  Germany,  in 
primitive  and  secondary  mountains,  accompanying  the 
preceding  species.  It  was  long  confounded  with  com- 
pact grey  manganese  ;  but  it  yields  a  good  iron  which 
corrodes  the  sides  of  the  furnace. 

Black  Hematites  Iron  ore  has  been  found  only  at 
Schmalkalden  in  Hesse.  In  form  it  greatly  resembles 
the  Red  Haematites,  but  differs  in  being  more  of  a  steel 
grey,  and  of  a  more  delicately  fibrous  structure. 

Neither  of  these  varieties  has  been  analyzed. 

ton.  It  is  delineated  in  the  laft  figure  of  the  third  plate  of  my  Geological 
Memoir  on  North  America. 

*  Is  not  the  beautiful  fibrous  iron  ore  whofe  cryftals  radiate  from  centre 
to  circumference,  a  variety  of  this  fpecies  ?  I  mean  that  fort  which  is  work- 
ed at  Ancram ;  and  whole  lumps  are  found  among  the  inland  alluvial  ar- 
ticles of  Staten  ifland. 


156  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 


CLAY   IRON-STONE.*     ARGILLACEOUS    IRON-STONE. 

Argillaceous  Iron-Stone  is  of  an  ash  grey  colour,  in- 
clining to  yellowish  and  bluish  ;  also  brown  or  reddish 
brown,  which  last  colour  is  usually  the  effect  of  exposure 
to  the  atmosphere ;  some  varieties  have  a  slaty  struc- 
ture ;  some  are  glimmering,  others  dull.  It  occurs  in 
globular  masses,  solid  or  pulverulent  within  ;  and  in 
masses  of  various  shapes,  as  columnar  and  lenticular, 
and  in  little  rounded  portions  about  the  size  of  peas. 

The  globular  masses,  consisting  of  concentric  layers 
either  hollow,  or  enclosing  a  yellowish  brown  pulveru- 
lent substance,  are  termed  JEtites :  externally,  these 
masses  are  very  compact,  bard  and  brown  :  they  are 
found  in  argillaceous  beds  in  some  secondary  countries, 
and  sometimes  abundantly  disseminated  in  alluvial  hills; 
and  are  occasionally  accompanied  by  bituminized  wood. 
.^Etites  consists  of  about  77  parts  of  peroxide  of  iron,  14 
of  water,  2  of  oxide  of  manganese,  5  of  silex,  and  1  of 
alumine  :  it  is  found  in  Bohemia  and  Saxony;  in  France, 
in  beds  of  sand  and  of  ochre.  It  is  frequently  met  with 
in  the  newer  secondary  rocks,  and  in  the  shale  of  coal 
formations;  it  occurs  at  Coalbrookdale  in  Shropshire, 
and  Merthyr  Tydvil  in  Wales,  and  in  Scotland  ;  at  which 
places  it  yields  an  iron  of  a  fine  quality.  It  also  occurs 
in  Staffordshire,  Yorkshire,  &c. 
The  Columnar  variety  is  of  a  brownish  red  colour,  and 

*  Argillaceous  iron  ore  is  found  in  many  places  along  the  fea  coaft  and 
ihores  of  New- York.  It  is  found  in  the  form  of  globular  or  roundilh  maf- 
fes,  which  on  being  broken,  are  found  to  contain  a  kernel  of  fofter  matter, 
ufually  ochreous,  refembling  the  yelk  of  an  egg,  within  its  ft  ell. 

Mafles  of  this  kind  are  frequently  found,  after  having  been  accidentally 
broken.  Through  the  fractured  part,  die  friable  internal  core  or  kernel 
occafionally  efcapes  by  wafting  and  attrition,  and  leaves  a  cavity  behind 
yefembling  a  tea-cup,  an  ink-fland,  a  hollow  fphere,  &c. 

Ferruginous  iron,  in  the  form  of  a  bafaltic  ore  has  been  found  at 
JPlandome.  ( '  Med.  JRef.  Vol.  z,f>.  zip. )  The  form  was  an  irregular  pen- 
tagon, with  truncated  extremities,  and  fomewhat  convex  furfaces. 

Pea-iron  ore  from  Egg  Harbour,  was  ftown  me  by  John  G.  Bogert, 
Bfquire. 

Granular  iron  ore,  is  common  in  the  Highlands.  The  mafies  are  about 
the  fize  of  peas,  and  the  fpaces  are  ufually  filled  by  quartz.  The  conftitu- 
tion  of  the  ore  is  very  compact. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  157 

is  dull,  soft,  brittle  and  magnetic  ;  it  is  met  with  in 
round  masses  and  in  columns.  It  occurs  occasionally  in 
beds  of  shale,  above  coal,  and  in  many  cases  seems  a 
pseudo-volcanic  product,  being  accompanied  by  burnt 
clay,  £c.  and  is  met  with  in  Germany  in  several  places, 
and  in  the  isle  of  Arran.  It  is  not  a  common  mineral, 
and  is  never  wrought  as  an  ore  of  iron. 

Pisiform  or  Pea  Iron  Ore,  is  mostly  found  in  round 
grains  of  a  dark  brown  colour;  having  an  external  po- 
lish, and  internal  earthy  fracture,  imbedded  in  a  ferru- 
ginous, argillaceous,  or  calcareous  cement.  It  is  found 
in  beds  of  clay,  and  in  flat  beds  beneath  the  surface  : 
but  mostly  in  cavities  in  secondary  limestone.  It  in- 
cludes less  iron,  and  more  alumine  and  silex,  than 
jEtites.  It  supplies  very  considerable  iron  works  at 
Arau,  near  Berne  in  Switzerland  ;  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  French  iron  is  said  to  be  produced  from  this  ore  : 
but  the  iron  yielded  by  it  is  said  to  be  often  of  a  bad 
quality,  and  very  brittle. 

BOG  IRON   ORE.* 

Bog  Iron  Ore  is  of  various  shades  of  black  and  brown, 
and  is  generally  of  a  soft  earthy  texture.  It  has  obtained 
its  name  from  its  being  chiefly  met  with  in  marshy 
places,  or  in  those  which  have  been  so  ;  it  consists  of 
about  66  parts  peroxide  of  iron,  2  of  oxide  of  manga- 
nese, 8  of  phosphoric  acid,  and  23  of  water.  A  variety 
which  is  nearly  black  is  termed  pitchy,  and  occurs  mas- 
sive, with  a  shining  lustre  ;  it  contains  about  the  same 
proportion  of  iron,  combined  with  8  of  sulphuric  acid 
and  25  of  water.  The  earthy  variety,  which  occurs  in 
yellowish  brown  cellular  masses,  has  not  been  analyzed. 
it  is  found  in  Saxony,  Prussia,  Poland,  and  many  parts 

*  Bog-ore  of  iron  abounds  in  North  America.  It  is  found  on  the  ifland. 
of  New- York.  It  is  worked  into  Bloomery-iron,  near  Ballftown  Springs. 
It  fupports  the  large  iron  works  at  Egg- harbour.  It  fupplies  great  furna- 
ces and  forges  on  both  fides  of  the  Chefapeake,  in  Maryland.  It  is  worked 
in  many  other  places. 

Part  of  it  appears  to  have  been  brought  to  the  ftrata  where  it  lies,  part- 
ly by  the  wain  from  the  inland  region,  when  the  barriers  which  confined 
the  interior  feas  or  lakes,  gave  way  ;  and  partly  by  the  chalybeate  fprings 
and  oozings  of  water  trickling  over  the  foil,  and  depofiting  their  iron. 

o 


158  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION' 

of  the  north  of  Europe  ;  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland 
and  the  Orkneys.  The  acids  contained  in  this  species 
are  supposed  to  have  arisen  from  decayed  vegetable 
matter ;  and  it  is  believed  that  owing  to  their  presence, 
the  iron  obtained  from  Bog  Iron  Ore  is  what  is  termed 
cold-short,  and  therefore  can  scarcely  ever  be  used  for 
plate  iron,  never  for  wire. 


BLtfE  IRON  ORE 


Is  of  a  pale  or  dirty  blue  colour  :  it  occurs  in  slender 
rhomboidal  prisms,  which  are  of  an  earthy  texture : 
when  fresh  dug  it  is  white,  but  by  exposure  becomes 
blue  ;  and  has  been  found  consisting  of  about  47  parts  of 
oxide  of  iron,  32  of  phosphoric  acid,  and  20  of  water.  It 
is  usually  found  in  small  portions  or  nests  in  certain  clays, 
bog  iron  ore,  or  peat.  It  occurs  in  France,  Saxony, 
Poland,  and  Scotland  ;  in  Siberia,  in  fossil  shells ;  in  the 
lavas  of  Etna  ;  and  in  England,  in  the  river-mud  at  Tox- 
teth  near  Liverpool,  and  in  the  Isle  of  Dogs  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  Thames. 

SPATHOSE  IRON.f 

.'r  ..•   -  .u,,-.:.  ,'"•     '-'   iff.    **•    £>":•,     '.       •     '    '-•£    ..-•:• 

Spathose  Iron  is  of  a  white  or  yellowish  grey  colour, 
passing  by  decomposition  into  yellow,  brown,  and 
brownish  black ;  when  translucent,  it  has  not  the  ap- 
pearance of  a  metalliferous  substance.  It  mostly  occurs 
in  rhombs,  which  are  rarely  perfect,  and  is  found  in 
veins,  principally,  of  primitive  mountains ;  it  is  some- 
times accompanied  by  sulphuret  of  iron,  yellow  copper 
ore,  grey  copper,  quartz,  carbonated  lime,  &c.  It  is 
met  with  in  Saxony,  Hungary,  &ic.  and  in  many  places, 
in  sufficient  quantity  for  working  as  an  ore  of  iron.  At 
Schmalkalden  in  Hesse,  there  is  a  bed  of  the  black  va- 

*  There  is  an  ore  of  iron,  brought  from  Allentown,  near  Trenton,  N. 
J.  that  is  brown  when  dug  out  of  the  earth,  but  turns  blue  by  expofure  to 
the  atmofphere.  The  colour  is  fine,  and  as  Col.  Trumbull  believes,  pro- 
mifes  a  valuable  article  for  painters.  It  is  compact,  hard  and  amorphous, 
and  contains  no  phofporic  acid.  (Cutbufi,  in  Am.  Mm.  "Journal,  p.  86.y~ 

f  I  have  American  fpecimens  of  the  Spathofe  iron-ore ;  but  do  not  now 
rgnember  from  what  place  they  came. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  159 

riety  150  feet  thick,  which  has  been  worked  for  several 
centuries  ;  and  at  Somororstro  in  Spain,  there  is  a  hill 
entirely  composed  of  it.  It  occurs  in  small  quantities 
in  several  of  the  mines  of  Cornwall.  Spathose  iron  ore 
consists  of  58  parts  of  oxide  of  iron,  35  of  carbonic  acid, 
4.25  of  oxide  of  manganese,  0.5  of  lime,  and  0.75  of 
magnesia.  The  iron  obtained  from  it  is  particularly  va- 
luable, as  it  may  be  converted  into  excellent  steel  im- 
mediately from  the  state  of  cast  iron  ;  the  bar  iron  form- 
ed from  it  is  both  hard  and  tough. 

SULPHATE  OF  IRON.*    GREEN  VITRIOL. 

Sulphate  of  Iron  is  found  in  fibres  of  a  whitish,  green- 
ish, or  yellowish  colour,  occasionally  of  an  emerald  green 
colour  ;  it  occurs  massive,  in  stalactites,  and  pulverulent. 
Jt  is  also  found  crystallized  in  an  acute  rhomboid,  ac- 
cording to  Haiiy  of  81°  33'.  and  98°  37',  which  is  the 
form  of  its  primitive  crystal ;  it  presents  a  few  varieties 
of  form.  It  is  met  with  in  most  mines  of  sulphuret  of 
iron,  of  copper,  and  of  zinc  ;  the  two  latter  being  rarely 
exempt  from  iron. 

..  * 

CHROMATE  OF  IRON.f 

Cbromate  of  Iron  has  hitherto  been  found  only  mas- 
sive :  its  aspect  is  somewhat  metallic,  and  it  is  hard 
enough  to  cut  glass;  it  is  of  a  blackish  brown  colour, 

*  Copperas  is  found  native  in  various  places ;  being  formed  chiefly  from 
the  decompofition  of  pyrites.  My  abftracl:  of  the  manufactures  of  the 
United  States,  returned  by  the  Marshals  of  the  feveral  diftricts,  to  the  Se- 
cretary of  State  in  1810,  contains  the  quantities  of  copperas,  or  vitriol  of 
iron,  manufactured  in  Vermont,  New-Jerfey,  Tenneffee,  and  other  ftates. 
It  is  now  underftood  that  it  may  be  prepared  to  any  demand  ;  but  the 
cheapnefs  of  the  article  imported  from  foreign  parts,  fupercedes,  in  a  great 
degree,  the  domeftic  manufacture.  It  was  in  a  copperas  cave  that  fome  of 
the  Malay  mummies  were  found.  (Miller  in  Med.  Repos.} 

f  Great  quantities  of  this  mineral  exift  near  Baltimore,  in  Maryland.— 
It  is  brownifli,  inclined  towards  a  rofe-colour.  Its  ufual  form  is  granular  5 
though  fometimea  compact  and  maffive.  It  is  frequently  bedded  in  Steati- 
tes, or  Soap-rock.  Beautiful  yellow  paint  has  been  prepared  by  combining 
the  chromic  acid  with  lead  —(Keyser.}  A  lamellated  chromate  of  iron 
has  been  found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Philadelphia. 

Solution  of  iron  in  water. — Chalybeate  fprings  are  very  frequent  in  New- 
York  and  around.  My  experiments  on  that  of  Schooley's  mountain,  may 


160          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

and  when  reduced  to  powder,  of  an  ash  grey.  It  has 
been  found  in  the  Uralian  mountains  in  Siberia ;  and 
since,  in  nodules  and  veins  in  serpentine,  near  Gassin,  in 
the  department  of  the  Var,  in  France.  The  latter  con- 
sists of  oxide  of  iron  34  parts,  chromic  acid  43  ;  alumine 
20  ;  silex  2.  That  of  Siberia  differs  principally  in  con- 
taining 10  per  cent,  more  of  the  chromic  acid  and  10 
per  cent,  less  of  alumine  :  it  also  contains  small  portions 
of  lime  and  of  manganese. 

ARSENIATE  OF  IRON. 

This  beautiful  substance  is  rarely  found  massive,  but 
mostly  in  cubes  of  various  shades  of  green,  vellow,  and 
brown,  sometimes  nearly  red ;  they  are  translucent, 
and  occasionally  almost  transparent,  but  possess  more 
of  the  appearance  of  an  earthy,  than  of  a  metalliferous 
substance  ;  by  decomposition  they  become  of  a  dull 
brown,  lose  their  trarislucency,  and  at  length  assume  the 
pulverulent  form.  The  cube  is  considered  to  be  the 
form  of  the  primitive  crystal  ;  I  possess  seven  varieties; 
and  it  is  remarkable,  in  some  of  them,  that  only  4  of  the 
8  solid  angles  are  replaced  by  planes ;  but  in  the  more 
complex  variety,  each  angle  is  replaced.  This  mineral 
is  said  hitherto  to  have  been  found  only  in  some  of  the 
copper  veins  of  Cornwall.  In  that  called  liuel  Gorland, 
which  is  partly  in  argillaceous  schistus  and  partly  in  gra- 
nite, it  was  found  in  the  same  vein  with  native  copper, 
and  some  of  its  ores,  as  the  vitreous,  red  oxide,  and  ar- 
seniate  of  copper  ;  also  with  arsenical  pyrites,  quartz, 
and  flu  ate  of  lime;  but  the  arseniate  of  iron  was  gene- 
rally met  with  nearer  to  the  surface  than  these  substances. 
The  arseniale  of  iron  consists  of  48  per  cent  of  iron,  18 
of  arsenic  acid,  arid  30  of  water. 

te  perufed  in  the  American  Min.  Journal,  Vol.  I.  p.  77—78.  My  expe- 
riments and  remarks  on  that  of  the  Chappequa  fpring  near  Mount  Plea- 
fant.  contained  in  my  letter  to  J.  Smith,  Efq.  reprefent  it  as  a  delicate  folu- 
tion  of  iron.  My  opinion  of  the  mineral  fpring  at  Flufhing,  expreffed  in 
my  note  to  Dr.  Bloodgood,  exhibits  it  as  containing  a  higher  charge  of  the 
ferruginous  mineral,  than  is  common.  Several  pumps  in  the  city  of  New  - 
York,  afford  ftrong  chalybeate  waters.  The  like  are  frequent  in  the  vici* 
nity.  There  is  a  plenty  of  iron  in  the  Ballflown  mineral  water.  t 


TO   MINERALOGY.  161 


MANGANESE. 


Manganese  is  so  difficult  to  be  obtained  in  tbe  metal- 
lic state,  that  very  little  more  is  known  of  it  than  that  it 
is  of  a  whitish  or  iron  grey  colour,  somewhat  malleable, 
brittle,  almost  infusible,  and  that  its  specific  gravity  is 
nearly  7. 

From  the  black  oxide  of  manganese,  *  all  the  oxygen 
gas  used  by  the  chemist  is  obtained,  and  all  the  oxygen 
entering  into  the  composition  of  the  oxymuriatic  acid 
consumed  in  the  bleacheries  of  Britain,  France,  and 
Germany.  The  violet  colour  employed  in  porcelain 
painting  is  obtained  from  manganese.  In  glass-making, 
it  is  employed  in  thq^ner  kinds  of  glass,  both  as  a  co- 
louring material  and  a  destroyer  of  colour  :  this  applica- 
tion of  it  is  ancient ;  it  is  mentioned  by  Pliny. 

Manganese  belongs  perhaps  rather  more  to  primitive 
than  to  secondary  countries.  In  the  state  of  an  oxide  it 
is  found  combined  in  a  very  considerable  number  both 
of  earthy  and  metalliferous  minerals,  though  for  the 
most  part,  only  in  very  small  proportions.  It  may  be 
said  to  be  found  almost  universally  :  it  is  met  with  both 
in  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms,  and  is  an  ingre- 
dient of  mica,  which  is  a  constituent  of  the  oldest  of  the/ 
primitive  rocks. 

Manganese  is  found  in  ores  of  great  variety  of  aspect. 
They  may  be  divided  into  four  kinds. 

GREY  MANGANESE, 

Grey  manganese  is  either  compact,  acicular,  or  crys* 
tallized.  When  compact,  it  occurs  in  masses  of  various 
shapes,  which  are  internally  of  a  glistening  metallic  lus* 

*  It  has  been  found,  in  combination  with  iron,  at  Ancram,  N.  Y.  For 
its  particular  hiftory ,  fee  Med.  Repos.  Vol^  1 1 ,  />.  442—3.  Alfo  diflemina- 
ted  among  the  rocks  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Baltimore,  (Gilmor,  American 
Min>  Journal,  p.  232.)  not  far  from  Vergeanes,  in  Vermont,  (Gibbs}  and 
JUFI  fcveral  other  places. 

O2 


162  *LTJS:i>IENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

tie  ;  it  is  met  with  in  France,  Saxony,  Piedmont,  Bohe- 
mia, and  at  Upton  Pyne  in  Devonshire,  where  it  is  cal- 
led Black-wad.  It  has  the  singular  property  of  inflaming 
spontaneously  when  mixed  with  one-fourth  of  its  weight 
of  linseed  oil  and  set  in  a  dry  warm  place  It  is  compo- 
posed  of  about  83  parts  of  oxide  of  manganese,  14  of 
barytes,  together  with  some  silex  and  carbon  :  its  speci- 
fic gravity  is  about  4.8. 

The  crystallized  variety  occurs  in  acicular,  rhomboi- 
dal  prisms,  variously  placed  in  regard  to  each  other,  but 
generally  in  radii.  Haiiy  has  described  four  varieties  of 
their  crystalline  forms.  It  consists  of  the  oxide  of  man- 
ganese, with  an  additional  but  variable  proportion  of 
oxygen.  It  is  found  in  nearly  the  same  places  as  the 
former  variety,  and  at  Mendip  in  Somersetshire,  and 
near  Aberdeen  in  Scotland.  Both  varieties  are  found 
in  primitive,  secondary,  and  alluvial  countries. 

S¥LPHURET  OF  MANGANESE. 

The  Sulphuret  of  Manganese  is  of  a  blackish  or 
brownish  grey  colour,  and  has  a  shining  metallic  lustre 
when  newly  fractured.  It  occurs  in  mass ;  and  is  fine 
grained,  and  somewhat  lamellar.  It  is  met  with  at  Nag- 
yag  in  Transylvania,  in  the  veins  in  which  the  ores  of 
gold  and  tellurium  are  found,  for  which  it  serves  as  a 
gangue  or  matrix  ;  it  also  occurs  in  Cornwall.  It  con- 
sists of  82  parts  of  oxide  of  manganese,  11  of  sulphur, 
and  5  of  carbonic  acid  :  its  specific  gravity  is  about  4. 

WHITE  MANGANESE. 

White  Manganese  is  of  a  whitish,  yellowish,  or  pale 
rose  red  colour  ;  and  is  found  in  the  same  place,  and 
tinder  the  same  circumstance,  as  the  preceding  variety. 
It  also  occurs  at  Kapnic  and  Offenbariya,  in  masses  of 
various  shapes.  It  consists  of  47  parts  protoxide  of  man- 
ganese, 40  of  silex,  4.6  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  l.o  of  lime  * 
its  specific  gravity  is  about  &8» 


TO    MINERALOGY.  I 63 


PHOSPHATE  OF  MANGANESE. 

The  Phosphate  of  Manganese  is  a  rare  mineral,  hav- 
ing hitherto  been  found  only  near  Limoges  in  France, 
in  granite,  and  in  the  same  vein  with  beryls.  It  is  of  a 
reddish  brown  colour  ;  is  hard  enongh  to  scratch  glass, 
and  may  be  broken  into  rectangular  prisms  with  square 
bases.  Its  specific  gravity  is  3.46  ;  and  it  consists  of  42 
parts  oxide  of  manganese,  31  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  27  of 
phosphoric  acid. 


MOLYBDENA> 

Molybdena  is  a  rare  metal,  which  has  never  been 
found  pure  :  it  is  with  difficulty  reduced  to  a  pure  state, 
and  has  only  been  obtained  in  brittle  infusible  grains  of 
a  greyish  white.  It  is  found  combined  in  the  metallic 
state  with  sulphur ;  and  in  the  acid  state  with  lead,  in 
the  state  of  an  oxide,  forming  a  mineral  called  Molyl> 
date  of  Lead,  described  under  that  head. 

SULPHURET  OF  MOLYBDENA.* 

Sulphuret  of  Molybdena  is  nearly  of  the  colour  of 
fresh  cut  metallic  lead.  It  is  found  massive,  and  disse- 
minated, more  rarely  crystallized  in  six-sided  prisms.  It 
is  opake,  stains  paper  or  the  fingers,  is  very  soft,  lami- 
nated, and  easily  divisible  in  the  direction  of  its  laminae  ; 
and  is  unctuous  to  the  touch,  and  flexible  :  it  yields  by- 
analysis  60  of  metallic  molybdena  and  40  of  sulphur. 

It  belongs  exclusively  to  primitive  countries,  and  is 
rarely  found  except  in  granite,  in  which  it  is  sometimes 
disseminated,  and  therefore  occasionally  forms  one  of 

*  The  fulphuret  of  Molybdena,  is  found  frequently  in  the  primitive 
jocks  of  New- York.  It  is  foliated,  fhining,  and  flexible ;  and  imparts  a 
ftain  like  black  lead,  readily,  to  paper  and  the  fingers.  1  have  fpecimcas 
&em  many  places ;  and  granite  or  gneiss  accompanies  them  all,. 


164       ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION,  &C. 

its  constituent  parts.  It  has  been  found  in  veins  produ- 
cing tin  ;  and  is  generally  accompanied  by  wolfram, 
quartz,  and  mica ;  less  frequently  by  native  arsenic,  flu- 
ate  of  lime,  topaz,  &e. 

It  is  found  disseminated  in  a  grey  granite  at  the  foot 
of  a  rock  called  Talefre  near  Mont  Blanc.  It  occurs  in 
the  tin  mines  of  Bohemia,  in  the  Vosges,  and  Sweden  : 
near  Norberg,  in  the  latter  place,  in  a  white  steatite  :  in 
Iceland,  in  granite,  of  which  the  felspar  is  red.  It  has 
lately  been  discovered  in  Huel  Gorland  and  some  other 
mines  of  Cornwall ;  it  occurs  also  at  Coldbeck  in  Cum- 
berland, at  Shap  in  Westmoreland,  and  at  Glen  Elg  in 
Invernessshire. 


TIN.* 

;^;,;i/  *&. 

In  its  pure  state,  the  specific  gravity  of  Tin  is  about 
7  ;  but  it  has  never  been  found  pure.  It  is  of  a  white 
colour,  approaching  that  of  silver;  and  is  harder,  more 
ductile,  and  more  tenacious  than  lead  ;  it  is  very  fusi- 
ble, and  gives  out  a  peculiar  crackling  noise  while  bend- 
ing. It  is  the  litghtest  of  the  ductile  metals.  Tin  was 
for  a  considerable  time  supposed  to  have  been  met  with 
in  the  native  or  pure  state  ;  but  it  has  been  pretty  well 
ascertained  that  the  specimens  which  gave  rise  to  the 
opinion,  were  found  on  the  sites  of  old  smelting  works, 
whence  these  specimens  have  since  obtained  the  name 
of  Jew's  House  Tin.  In  the  natural  state,  Tin  is  found 
as  a  nearly  pure  oxide,  or  combined,  in  that  state,  with 
small  portions  of  oxide  of  iron  and  silex  ;  it  generally 
occurs  crystallized  ;  rarely  in  mass  ;  sometimes  in  de- 
lached  rounded  pieces  from  the  size  of  a  grain  of  sand  to 
that  of  a  man's  fist.  It  is  also  found  in  combination  with 
copper,  sulphur,  and  iron.  Tin  belongs  exclusively  to 
primitive  countries. 

*  Tin  is  mentioned  as  afforded  by  a  mine,  not  very  far  from  Kafkaf- 
tias.  (Med.  Rep.  Vol.  y^f.  306.)  My  fpecimens  of  Tin  from  Malacca  and 
Banca,  received  from  capt,  Henry  Auftin,  are  m  a  powdery  form  and  black. 


TO   MINERALOGY.  165 

The  alloys  of  tin  with  other  metals,  are  mentioned  in 
treating  of  lead,  copper,  and  quicksilver.  Another  will 
be  noticed  under  the  article  Bismuth.  In  a  fine  leaf,  as 
tin  foil,  it  is  used  for  many  purposes  ;  its  salts  are  used 
in  dyeing  :  its  economical  purposes  are  well  known. 

OXIDE  OF  TIN. 

Oxide  of  Tin  rather  resembles  an  earthy  than  a 
metalliferous  substance.  It  occurs  in  nearly  colourless 
and  translucent  crystals,  and  in  crystals  of  various  shades 
of  yellow,  brown,  and  black,  which  are  either  translu- 
cent or  opake.  The  form  of  the  primitive  crytal,  is  an 
obtuse  octohedron  of  112°.10'  and  67°.50',  which  has 
not  hitherto  been  found  uncornbined  with  the  planes  of 
one  or  more  of  the  several  modifications  to  which  it  is 
subject:  the  crystals  in  my  possession  afford  about  ISO 
varieties  of  form,  besides  numerous  compound  crystals 
or  macles. 

Tin  is  by  no  means  a  universally  diffused  metal  ; 
many  countries  are  entirely  without  it  :  but  it  is  found  in 
Gallicia  in  Spain,  and  lately  2  or  3  veins  have  been 
discovered  in  a  granite  mountain  in  Brittany  in  France : 
it  occurs  also  at  Seiffen,  at  Geir,  and  at  Altenberg  in 
Saxony ;  at  Schlackenwald  in  Bohemia,  in  Bunca  and 
Malacca  in  the  East  Indies,  and  in  Chili  in  South  Ame- 
rica :  but  most  abundantly  in  the  western  parts  of  Devon- 
shire and  in  Cornwall.  Though  Tin  is  he  lightest  of 
the  ductile  metals,  it  is  remarkable  that  the  natural 
oxide  is  one  of  the  heaviest  of  the  metalliferous  ores  :  its 
specific  gravity  is  nearly  7. 

The  oxide  of  Tin  belongs  chiefly,  and  almost  exclu- 
sively, to  the  oldest  of  the  primitive  mountains,  and  is 
found  in  veins  or  beds,  mostly  the  former,  in  granite, 
gneiss,  and  micaceous  and  argillaceous  schistus.  It  is 
often  found  disseminated  in  granite.  In  veins  and  beds, 
it  is  accompanied  by  quartz,  mica,  Hthomarga,  talc, 
steatite,  fluate  and  phosphate  of  lime,  topaz,  wolfram, 
arsenical  pyrites,  &tc.  which,  like  Tin,  are  considered 
to  be  among  the  substances  of  the  most  ancient  formation. 
But  it  is  said  rarely  to  be  found  with  carbonate  of  lime, 
sulphate  of  barytes,  lead,  or  silver,  which  often  accom- 


160  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

pany  other  metals.  It  is  remarkable  that  in  the  veins 
of  Cornwall,  Tin  is  frequently  found  nearer  the  surface 
than  copper. 

In  some  of  the  valleys  and  low  grounds  of  Cornwall, 
the  oxide  of  Tin  is  found  in  grains  arid  masses,  rounded 
by  attrition,  which  frequently  bear  the  marks  of  crystal- 
lization. The  tin  is  generally  intermixed  with,  or  cover- 
ed by,  the  rubbish  resulting  from  the  disintegration  of  the 
rocks,  which  doubtless  once  held  it  in  its  native  place. 
Small  grains  of  gold  are  occasionally  found  with  it.  As 
in  order  to  separate  the  tin  from  the  alluvial  matte'-, 
streams  of  water  are  passed  over  them  :  these  deposites 
are  called  Stream  works  ;  one  of  the  most  remarkable  of 
which  is  in  a  branch  of  Falmouth  harbour. 

In  these  stream  works  also  a  variety  of  the  oxide  of 
Tin  is  found,  which  has  obtained  the  name  of  Wood 
Tin ;  which  occurs  sometimes  in  wedge-shaped  pieces, 
banded  with  various  shades  of  brown  ;  and  which,  from 
their  diverging  and  fibrous  structure,  appear  to  be  por- 
tions of  globular  masses ;  they  are  mostly  rounded  by 
attrition.  Minute  portions  of  this  variety  have  lately 
been  met  with  in  cellular  quartz ;  they  have  a  very 
silky  lustre. 

TIN  PYRITES.       BELL-METAL  ORE.       SULPHURET  OP 
TIN. 

This  rare  substance  has  only  been  found  in  the  mine 
called  Huel  Rock  in  Cornwall,  in  a  vein  9  feet  wide, 
accompanied  by  sulphuret  of  zinc  and  of  iron.  Its 
colour  is  steel  grey,  passing  into  yellowish  white  :  it  has  a 
metallic  lustre  and  granular  fracture,  and  yields  easily  to 
the  knife.  Its  specific  gravity  is  4.3  :  and  it  consists  of 
34  parts  of  tin,  86  of  copper,  25  of  sulphur,  and  2  of 
iron  ;  but  it  does  not  seem  to  be  ascertained  in  what 
manner  the  sulphur  is  combined  with  either  of  those 
metals. 


I 


TO  MINERALOGY.  167 


TUNGSTEN. 

Tungsten,  called  Scheelin  by  the  French  chemists 
and  mineralogists,  in  honor  of  its  discoverer,  Scheele, 
is  a  hard,  brittle,  granular  metal,  of  a  light  steel  grey 
colour  and  brilliant  metallic  lustre.  It  is  not  found  in 
the  pure  state ;  but  only  in  the  state  of  an  oxide* 
principally  combined  with  lime,  forming  a  mineral, 
commonly,  though  improperly,  called  Tungstate  of 
Lime ;  or  in  that  of  an  acid,  combined  chiefly  with 
iron  ;  the  latter  combination  is  called  Tungstate  of  Iron 
or  Wolfram. 

The  ores  of  Tungsten  are  chiefly,  if  not  exclusively, 
found  in  primitive  countries. 

TUNGSTATE    OF    LIME. 

Tungstate  of  Lime  completely  resembles  a  stone  ;  it 
is  commonly  translucent,  limpid,  and  of  a  yellowish 
colour :  it  has  a  laminated  structure ;  it  considerably 
resembles  carbonate  of  lead,  oxide  of  tin,  and  sulphate 
of  barytes  It  occurs  both  in  mass  and  crystallized. 
The  primitive  form  of  its  crystals  is  that  of  the  rectan- 
gular parallelepiped ;  it  is  more  commonly  found  in  the 
form  of  an  octobedron.  The  varieties  of  form  assumed 
by  its  crystals  are  not  numerous. 

It  is  commonly  found  in  tin  veins.  It  occurs  in  those 
of  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Sweden  and  England  ;  and  is 
accompanied  by  wolfram,  quartz,  mica,  £c. 

The  translucent  crystals  of  this  mineral  are  composed 
of  oxide  of  tungsten  78  parts;  of  lime  18;  and  ofsilex 
3 :  those  of  Cornwall  contain  a  little  iron  and  manganese. 

TUNGSTATE  OF  IRON.       WOLFUAM. 

*-.  i.-: 

Wolfram  is  generally  of  a  brownish  black  colour,  and 
principally  occurs  in  veins  in  primitive  mountains,  ac- 
companying the  oxide  of  tin ;  it  somewhat  resembles 
certain  ores  of  iron,  but  is  generally  heavier  5  it  is  met 


168  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

with  in  mass,  and  crystallized.  It  may  be  cleaved  into 
a  rectangular  parallelepiped,  which  therefore  is  consi- 
dered to  be  the  form  of  its  primitive  crystal ;  the  varie- 
ties assumed  by  it  do  not  exceed  three  or  four. 

It  is  met  with  in  the  tin  veins  of  Saxony  and  Bohemia, 
at  Puy  les  Mines  in  France,  and  abundantly  in  several 
of  the  tin  veins  of  Cornwall.  In  the  mine  called  Huel 
Fanny,  near  Redrutb,  Wulfam  is  met  with  in  the  form 
of  the  primitive  crystal,  but  very  minute. 

By  analysis  Wolfram  yields  67  parts  of  tungstic  acid. 
18  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  about  7  parts  of  oxide  of  man- 
ganese. 


TITANIUM.* 


Titanium  is  so  difficult  of  fusion,  that  the  attempts  to 
reduce  it  to  a  pure  metallic  state  have  scarcely  suc- 
ceeded. It  is  of  a  copper  red  colour. 

Two  of  its  ores  are  nearly  pure  oxides;  in  the  others, 
Titanium,  in  the  state  of  an  oxide,  is  in  combination 
with  other  metallic  oxides,  or  with  lime,  and  silex. 
Titanium  belongs  exclusively  to  primitive  countries. 

Tbe  only  use  to  which  titanium  has  ever  been  put, 
was  in  the  porcelain  manufactory  at  Sevres,  where  it 
was  emplyed  to  produce  the  rich  browns  in  painting  it. 
The  want  of  uniformity  in  colour  occasioned  its  disuse. 

*  The  combinations  of  fome  of  the  ores  of  titanium,  were  firft  difcribed 
with  great  care  by  Dr.  Bruce,  in  his  Mineralogical  Journal,  p.  231 — 243. 
He  has  given  figures  of  the  oxyd  and  the  Silicic- calcareous  oxyd,  in  their 
cryftalline  forms.  To  thefe  two  forms,  and  to  that  of  theferrugirou.-  oxyj+ 
he  refers  all  the  fpecies  of  titanium  that  he  has  feen.  Four  kinds  were 
found  on  the  ifland  of  New- York,  in  the  limeflone  ridge  near  Kingfi. 
bridge.  Two  came  from  the  vicinity  of  Richmond  in  Virginia.  One 
from  Worthington,  Maffachufetts.  One  from  the  neighbourhood  of 
Baltimore.  One  from  an  infulated  mafs  of  quartz  in  Bergen  county, 
New-Jerfey.  One  from  Ticonderoga.  One  from  Lake  George.  Three 
from  Staten-lfland.  One  from  Peekfkill.  One  from  Wantage,  New*. 
Jerfey.  There  are  many  ether  places  ID  the  U.  S,  where  tiunium  has 
been  difcovered. 


TO  MIXERALOGF.  169 


TITANITE.      RUTIL.      RED  SCHORL. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  brownish  red  colour,  and  is  mostly 
opake,  but  occasionally  is  somewhat  translucent,  and  is 
of  about  the  hardness  of  quartz  ;  it  may  be  broken  into 
a  square  prism  with  square  bases,  which  therefore  is  the 
form  of  its  primitive  crystal.  It  is  nearly  a  pure  oxide 
of  titanium. 

It  is  generally  found  imbedded  in  quartz,  sometimes 
in  granite ;  the  hair-like  appearance  traversing  some 
crystals  of  quartz  in  every  direction,  are  generally  crys- 
tals of  titanite.  It  is  found  almost  exclusively  in  primi- 
tive countries,  or  in  alluvial  deposites  in  their  neighbour- 
hood. 

It  occurs  in  a  schistose  mountain  near  Mont  Blanc, 
accompanied  by  carbonate  of  lime,  and  some  ores  of 
iron ;  at  Rosenau  in  Hungary,  and  in  New  Castilie  in 
Spain,  it  is  implanted  in  rock  crystal  in  mountains  of 
gneiss ;  at  St.  Gothard,  it  occurs  in  the  cavities  of  gra- 
nite, mixed  with  rock  crystal,  &c. :  and  near  St.  Yrieix 
in  France,  and  in  South  Carolina  in  America,  it  is  found 
in  alluvial  soil.  It  is  met  with  also  near  Beddgelu  in 
Caernarvonshire;  and  Cairgonn,  and  Craig  Cailleach 
near  Killin  in  Scotland. 

ANATASE.      OCTOHEDRITE. 

Anataste  is  also  nearly  a  pure  oxide  of  titanium  ;  it  is 
found  in  octohedrons  which  are  somewhat  acute  ;  Haiiy 
bas  described  four  varieties  of  form  to  which  it  is  sub- 
ject :  its  colour  is  generally  bluish  or  reddish  brown.  It 
it  met  with  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Passau  in  Bavaria, 
at  Bouen  in  Norway,  at  St.  Gothard  in  Switzerland,  and 
in  the  valley  of  Oysans  in  France,  mixed  with  portions 
of  granite. 

KIGBINE. 

In  the  Nigrine,  the  oxide  of  titanium  is  combined 
with  about  14  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  2  of  manganese.  It 
is  found  in  primitive  rocks,  often  imbedded  in  them,  in 

P 


170  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

Bavaria,  Norway,  in  Mont  Blanc,  Mont  Rosa,  and  in 
the  granite  of  Egypt. 


RUTILITE.       8PHENE. 


The  Rutilite  is  composed  of  nearly  equal  parts  of  ox- 
ide of  titanium,  silex,  and  lime  :  it  occurs  in  small  crys- 
tals of  a  yellowish  or  blackish  brown  colour,  in  the  form 
of  rhomboidal  prisms,  terminated  by  4  sided  pyramids  : 
it  is  also  found  in  mass.  It  is  met  with  nearly  in  the 
same  places  as  the  Nigrine. 


MENACCANITE. 


In  the  Menaccanite,  which  is  found  in  grains  of  a  bluish 
black  colour,  mixed  with  quartzose  sand,  in  the  bed  of 
a  rivulet  at  Menaccan  in  Cornwall,  the  oxide  of  titanium 
is  combined  with  54  parts  of  oxide  of  iron,  a  trace  of 
oxide  of  manganese,  and  3  of  silex. 


1SERINE. 


In  the  Iserine,  about  48  parts  of  oxide  of  titanium 
are  combined  with  48  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  4  oxide  of 
uranium.  It  is  found  in  angular  masses  and  rolled  pieces, 
near  the  source  of  the  river  Iser  in  the  Reisengebirge, 
in  granite  sand ;  and  in  the  bed  of  the  river  Don  in 
Aberdeenshire  in  Scotland. 


CERIUM. 

Cerium,  in  its  metallic  state  is  scarcely  known ;  Vau- 
quelin  succeeded  in  procuring,  by  the  reduction  of  one 
of  its  ores,  a  metallic  globule,  not  larger  than  a  pin's 
head.  It  was  harder,  whiter,  much  more  brittle,  and 
more  scaly  in  its  fracture,  than  pure  cast  iron. 

Cerium  has  hitherto  been  found  entering  into  combi- 
nation in  a  few  rare  minerals,  the  other  ingredients  of 


TO  MINERALOGF.  171 

which  are  principally  earthy  substances.  The  Cerite 
and  the  Alanite  differ  considerably  in  their  composition  \ 
in  both,  the  Cerium  is  in  the  state  of  an  oxide. 


CERITE. 

The  Cerite  was  brought  from  the  copper  mine  of 
Bastnaes,  near  Riddachyta  in  Sweden  ;  the  mine  is  si- 
tuated in  gneiss,  and  the  Cerite  was  accompanied  by  the 
ores  of  copper,  rnolybdena,  and  bismuth;  and  with  mi- 
ca, hornblende,  &c. 

It  is  generally  of  a  pale  rose  colour,  but  sometimes 
inclines  to  brown.  It  occurs  massive  or  disseminated ; 
it  is  granular,  brittle,  and  easily  scratches  glass;  and 
consists  of  54.5  parts  of  oxide  of  cerium,  34.5  of  silex> 
1.25  of  lime,  3.5  of  oxide  of  iron,  and  5  of  water. 

ALLANITE. 

The  Allanite  occurs  in  oblique  four-sided,  or  com- 
pressed six-sided,  prisms,  of  llf0  and  63°  terminated 
by  four-sided  summits:  it  also  occurs  massive,  or  disse- 
minated in  black  mica,  and  felspar.  Externally  it  is  of 
a  dull  brownish  black  colour,  and  is  opake  and  brittle. 
It  was  brought  from  Greenland,  but  nothing  is  known  of 
its  geological  history  ;  it  obtained  its  name  in  honour  of 
its  discoverer,  M.  Allen  of  Edinburgh.  It  is  composed 
of  33.9  parts  of  oxide  of  cerium,  25.4  of  oxide  of  iron, 
35.4  of  silex,  9.2  of  lime,  4.1  of  alumine,  and  4  of  mois- 
ture. 

Two  minerals,  one  from  Bastnaes  in  Sweden,  the  other 
from  the  Mysore^  have  lately  been  found  among  others 
brought  from  those  countries,  which  have  been  found  to 
contain  cerium  ;  the  former  has  been  analyzed  by  Berze- 
lius,  the  latter  by  Dr.  Wollaston ;  they  considerably  re- 
semble the  Allanite  in  composition.  That  from  Bast- 
naes is  called  the  Cerin. 


172          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 


URANIUM.*. 

Uranium  is  a  brittle,  granular,  hard  metal,  of  ex- 
tremely difficult  fusibility. 

It  is  remarakble  that  this  metal  has  never  been  found 
in  any  state  having  a  metallic  appearance  ;  consequent- 
ly never  in  the  pure  state. 

It  is  of  a  dark  grey  colour,  may  be  cut  by  the  knife, 
and  is,  next  to  tellurium,  the  lightest  of  the  metals  ;  its 
specific  gravity  being  very  little  more  than  6. 

Its  ores  are  only  two  in  number  :  in  both,  it  occurs  in 
the  state  of  an  oxide  :  they  are  considered  to  belong  to 
primitive  countries.  No  use  has  hitherto  been  made  of 
Uranium* 

I7RANITE. 

Uranite  occurs  principally  in  small  crystals  of  various 
shades  of  yellow,  green,  and  brown,  which  are  some- 
limes  transparent,  sometimes  opake.  It  is  met  with  in 
nearly  the  same  places  and  under  the  same  circumstan- 
ces as  the  uran-ochre.  In  France,  at  Chanteloube  and 
St.  Symphorien,  and  in  two  or  three  mines  in  Cornwall 
it  is  found  in  a  friable  granite.  It  is  nearly  a  pure  oxide 
of  uranium. 

At  first  sight  the  Uranite  considerably  resembles  a  va- 
riety of  the  arseniate  of  copper;  but  differs  in  the  form 
of  the  crystal.  The  primitive  crystal  of  the  Uranite 
seems  to  approach  the  cube.  Its  crystals  present  seve- 
ral modifications.  I  possess  47  varieties  of  form,  which 
are  all  from  Cornwall.  The  variety  from  Gunnis  Lake 
mine,  near  Callington  in  that  county,  exhibits  quadran- 
gular plates,  very  thin,  of  a  beautiful  green  colour,  and 
transparent. 

The  oxide  of  uranium  is  seldom  found  entering  into 
the  composition  of  other  metalliferous  substances,  but 

*  Suppofed  to  exift  in  the  form  of  eartby  grctn  oxyf,  near  Baltimore^ 
and  at  Brwnfwick  Maine.  (Cleaveland.) 


TO    MINERALOGY.  173 

is  met  with  in  a  small  quantity  in  the  iserine,  one  of  the 
ores  of  titanium. 

UBAN-OCHRE.       PITCH-BLENDE. 

Uran-ochre  is  mostly  of  a  brown  or  brownish  black 
colour;  it  occurs  globular  or  massive,  is  sometimes  dis- 
seminated, or  pulverulent :  it  frequently  resembles  pitch, 
and  is  very  brittle  It  consists  of  86.5  parts  of  oxide  of 
uranium,  combined  with  6  of  galena,  2.5  black  oxide 
of  iron,  and  5  of  silex. 

It  is  met  with  in  veins  of  copper,  lead,  silver,  &c. 
in  Bohemia,  Saxony ;  and  in  two  or  three  of  the  cop- 
per veins  of  Cornwall,  passing  through  a  friable  gra- 
nite. 


TANTALIUM;  OR,  COLUMBIUM.* 

Tantalium  is  a  metal,  having  but  a  slight  external  me- 
tallic lustre ;  it  is  dull  and  almost  black  internally ;  its 
specific  gravity  is;  little  more  than  6. 

It  is  only  found  in  the  state  of  an  oxide  combined  with 
other  substances ;  its  ores  are  only  two.  They  have 
been  found  only  in  a  primitive,  mountain. 

TANTAL1TE. 

The  Tantalite  is  found  principally  in  crystals  in  the 
form  of  an  acute  octahedron,  and  of  a  bluish  grey  or 

*  As  foon  as  it  was  known  that  an  American  mineral  had  afforded 
a  new  metal,  I  endeavoured  to  make  known  the  particulars,  by  a  ftate- 
ment  of  them  in  a  periodical  work  of  science.  (6  Med.  Ref>>  p.  ai2— -323.) 
I  employed  all  the  means  in  my  power  to  difcover  the  place  whence 
Gov.  Winthrop's  fpecimen,  found  by  Mr.  Halchett,  in  Sir  Hans  Hoane's 
collection,  might  be  fuppofed  to  have  been  taken.  After  about  two 
years  of  inquiry,  his  defcendant,  Francis  B.  Winthrop,  Efq.  of  New- York, 
gave  me  rcalbn  to  believe  the  mineral  in  queftion  was  originally  found 
near  a  fpring  at  Nautneague,  a  place  where  Gov.  Winthrop  ufed  to  lives 
about  3  miles  from  the  margin  of  the  falt-water,  at  New-London-  Har- 
bour. (8  Med,  Repos.p,  437.) 

P21 


174  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

iron  black  colour.  It  occurs  disseminated,  in  globular 
masses,  in  a  vein  composed  of  red  felspar,  traversing  a 
mountain  of  gneiss,  near  Brokaern  in  Abo  in  Finland. 
It  has  a  metallic  lustre  when  broken  ;  and  is  composed 
of  83  parts  of  oxide  of  tantalium,  12  of  oxide  of  iron, 
and  8  of  oxide  of  manganese  :  its  specific  gravity  is  7.9. 


YTTROTANTALITE. 

The  other  compound  mineral  in  which  tantaliura  is 
found  is  called  the  Yttrotantalite,  from  its  also  contain- 
ing a  portion  of  the  rare  earth  Yttria.  It  is  found  at 
Ytterby  in  Sweden,  in  a  vein  of  felspar  with  the  gado- 
linite  f  it  occurs  disseminated  in  masses  about  the  size 
of  a  nut.  It  is  nearly  black  ;  when  broken,  it  is  of  a  shin- 
ing metallic  lustre,  and  granular.  The  Yttrotantalite 
consists  of  45  parts  of  oxide  of  tantalium,  and  55  of  yttria 
and  oxide  of  iron  :  its  specific  gravity  is  5.1. 


CHROME,* 

Chrome  is  a  metal  of  a  greyish-white  colour,  and  ex- 
tremely brittle  ;  it  is  remarkable  that  it  has  never  been 
found  in  the  metallic  form,  either  pure  or  combined  with 
any  other  substance,  but  only  in  the  acid  state,  or  in  that 
of  an  oxide. 

The  chromic  acid  is  found  in  combination  with  lead, 
forming  a  compound  mineral  called  chromate  of  lead, 
already  described. 

*  Chromate  of  Iron  is  found  in  large  quantities  at  the  bare  hills,  7  miles 
on  the  Falls  turnpike,  maflive  and  granular,  in  veins  and  lumps  difiemina- 
ted  through  a  ferpentine  rock.  Perhaps  in  no  part  of  the  world,  has  fo 
much  been  difcovered  in  one  place.  It  furnifties  the  means  of  preparing 
the  beautiful  paint  called  the  chromic  yellow,  with  which  the  carriages 
and  furniture  are  now  painted,  in  Baltimore.  (Gilmor.)  It  is  found  alfo  in 
octahedral  cryftals,  very  fmall  and  magnetic,  along  the  ravines  and  among 
the  fand  of  rivulets,  mingled  with  the  granular  chromatc  of  iron.—- (ibid.} 
it  is  prefumed  the  red,  green,  yellow  and  purple,  of  the  Staten-ifland  ftear 
tites,  near  New- York,  may  be  derived  from  Chrome. 


TO   MINERALOGY.  175 

The  Chromic  acid  enters  into  the  composition  of  the 
spinelle  ruby. 

The  Oxide  of  Chrome  is  found  in  combination  with 
iron  ;  forming  a  compound  already  described  as  chro- 
mate  of  iron.  It  is  also  found  in  the  emerald,  and  in 
two  or  three  other  earthy  minerals  ;  it  has  likewise 
been  detected  in  some  of  the  meteoric  stones,  or  aero- 
lites. 

Chrome,  as  obtained  in  the  metallic  state  by  the  che- 
mist, from  either  of  the  foregoing  compounds,  has  not 
been  applied  to  any  important  use  :  it  tinges  glass  of  a 
green  colour.  It  has  been  ascertained  that  the  emerald 
owes  its  beautiful  green  colour  to  oxide  of  chrome  :  it 
seems  therefore  probable  that  chrome  may  hereafter  be 
employed  as  paint. 


BISMUTH* 

Bismuth  is  of  a  reddish-white  colour,  and  very  brittle, 
Its  specific  gravity  is  nearly  10. 

It  is  found  in  the  pure  or  native  state  somewhat  alloy- 
ed by  arsenic. 

The  ores  of  Bismuth  are  few ;  in  one  of  them  it  is 
combined  with  sulphur ;  in  another  with  inferior  por- 
tions of  other  metals,  and  with  sulphur.  It  is  also  met 
with  combined  with  oxygen.  All  its  ores  are  considerd 
to  belong  exclusively  to  primitive  mountains. 

Bismuth  is  very  little  used,  but  it  enters  into  the  com- 
position of  some  of  the  soft  solders,  and  of  sympathetic 
ink.  It  forms  alloys  with  other  metals.  Tin  und  bis* 
muth  are  two  of  the  most  fusible  metals.  The  fusible 
metal  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  is  composed  of  8  parts  of 
bismuth,  5  of  lead,  and  3  of  tin  ;  when  this  is  thrown  in- 

*  Native  Bifmuth  in  brilliant  plates,  interfperfed  through  a.  vein  of 
quartz,  has  been  found  in  Huntington,  Connecticut.  The  largeft  plate  is 
not  more  than  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  its  forface  beautifully  reticulated, 
(Sillimqn  in  Am,  Min.  Journal.  f>.  267.} 


176  ELEMENTARV    INTRODUCTION 

to  water  and  heat  applied,  it  melts  a  little  before  the 
water  has  reached  the  boiling  point. 

NATIVE  BISMUTH. 

Native  Bismuth  is  of  a  silvery  white,  tinged  with  red  ; 
and  occurs  massive,  dendritical,  and  crystallized  in  the 
regular  octohedron,  which  is  considered  to  be  the  form 
of  its  primitive  crystal ;  also  in  cubes,  and  in  the  form  of 
an  acute  rhomboid.  It  is  rarely  quite  pure,  but  mostly 
contains  a  small  portion  of  cobalt  or  arsenic  :  it  is  some- 
times so  disseminated  throughout  its  gangue  or  matrix, 
as  to  be  scarcely  perceptible  ;  but  on  subjecting  it  to 
heat,  globules  of  Bismuth  appear  on  the  surface.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  about  9. 

It  is  met  with  in  Bohemia,  Saxony,  France,  Swabia, 
Transylvania,  Sweden,  and  in  Cornwall ;  it  chiefly 
occurs  in  veins  in  primitive  mountains  in  a  gangue  of 
quartz,  calcareous  spar,  sulphate  of  barytes,  indurated 
clay,  or  of  jasper,  and  is  accompanied  by  ores  of  co- 
balt and  nickel;  and  sometimes  of  silver,  zinc,  and  lead 

SULPHURET  OF  BISUUTH. 

Sulphuret  of  Bismuth  is  of  a  colour  between  tin  white 
and  lead  grey,  and  is  found  massive  and  acicular  >  it  is 
splendent  and  shining,  and  brittle.  It  consists  of  60 
parts  of  bismuth,  36  of  sulphur,  and  a  little  iron  ;  but 
in  some  specimens,  the  proportion  of  sulphur  does  not 
amount  to  more  than  5  per  cent.  Its  specific  gravity  is 
about  6. 

It  is  a  rare  mineral ;  but  has  been  found  at  Joachims- 
thai  in  Bohemia,  at  Scbneeburg  in  Saxony,  and  at  Bast- 
uaes  in  Sweden,  in  a  gangue  of  quartz  ;  in  spathose  iron 
ore,  at  Biber  in  Hesse  ;  and  in  Cornwall. 

It  resembles  sulphuret  of  antimony  in  colour  and  is 
Jiable  to  be  mistaken  for  it. 

A  variety,  of  a  dark  steel  grey  colour,  has  been  found 
,to  consist  of  about  43  parts  of  bismuth,  24  of  lead,  12  of 
copper,  1  of  nickel,  1  of  tellurium,  and  11  of  sulphur, 
and  has  therefore  been  termed  Plumbo-cupriferous  &id- 
ptiuret  of  Bismuth. 


TO    MINERALOGY.  17T 


Another  variety  of  a  steel  grey  colour  has  yielded 
about  47  parts  of  bismuth,  35  of  copper,  and  13  of  sul- 
phur, and  has  received  the  name  of  Cupriferous  sulphu- 
rp.t  of  Rismuth. 


BISMUTH  OCHRE.       OXIDE   OF  BISMUTH. 

Bismuth  ochre  occurs  both  massive  and  pulverulent, 
and  is  of  yellowish  grey  colour,  tinged  with  green.  It  is 
readily  reduced  on  charcoal  to  the  metallic  state,  and  is 
therefore  considered  to  be  a  pure  oxide  of  bismuth  :  its 
specific  gravity  is  4.37. 

It  is  very  rare  ;  and  has  been  principally  found  at 
Schneeburg  in  Saxony,  accompanying  native  bismuth. 
It  has  also  been  met  with  in  Cornwall. 


ARSENIC* 

Arsenic,  when  pure,  is  of  a  bluish  white  colour;  but* 
by  exposure  to  air,  becomes  at  length  almost  black.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  above  8.  It  is  extremely  brittle,  and 
has  a  granular  fracture. 

Arsenic  is  a  metal  of  very  frequent  occurrence  :  it  is 
found  nearly  pure,  when  it  is  called  Native  Arsenic,  and 
in  combination  with  most  other  metals  :  its  presence, 
when  in  considerable  quantity,  may  be  detected  by  ex- 
posing the  substance  to  heat,  or  by  striking  it  with  a 
hammer,  which  cause  the  arsenic  to  give  out  an  odour 
like  that  of  garlic.  It  is  also  found  in  combination  with 

*  Arfenic,  in  the  form  called  White  Pyrites  or  Arfenical  Pyrites,  is  occa- 
flonally  found  adhering  to  quartz,  in  primitive  rocks.  My  fpecimens  of 
Mifpickel,  from  Warwick,  hi  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  are  in  roundifli  lumps 
of  different  magnitudes,  from  that  of  a  man's  fift,  to  that  of  a  moderate 
fized  melon.  Externally,  the  mafles  are  rough  and  tarniihed ;  but  within,, 
they  exhibit  a  tin-celoured  luftre.  They  are  very  heavy ;  and  readily 
emit  garlic-flavoured  vapours  of  a  white  colour,  by  expofure  to  even  a  mo* 
derate  heat.  My  informant  laid  there  was  a  great  quantity  there. 


178  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

oxygen  ;  with  sulphur ;  and  in  the  state  of  an  acid,  with 
some  of  the  metals,  and  also  with  lime. 

Arsenic  belongs  chiefly  to  primitive  countries. 

NATIVE    ARSENIC. 

Native  Arsenic  is  found  only  in  veins  in  primitive 
mountains.  It  is  of  a  greyish  white  colour  and  metallic 
lustre  ;  but  by  exposure  becomes  dull ;  it  occurs  in  irre- 
gular masses  :  it  is  nearly  pure,  being  alloyed  only  by  a 
very  small  proportion  of  iron,  or  of  gold  or  silver.  Na- 
tive arsenic  is  composed  by  some  of  the  ores  of  silver, 
cobalt,  lead,  nickel  and  iron;  also  by  carbonate  and 
fluate  of  lime,  quartz,  and  some  other  substances.  It 
is  usually  found  in  masses,  somewhat  round  :  never  crys- 
tallized. 

It  occurs  in  the  mines  of  St.  Marie  aux  Mines  in 
France,  in  those  of  Freyberg  in  Saxony ;  and  of  Bohe* 
mia,  Cornwall,  and  Siberia. 

OXIDE    OF    ARSENIC. 

Arsenic  in  the  state  of  an  oxide  occurs  tn  the  pris- 
matic, acicular,  and  pulverulent  form,  in  the  mines  of 
Hesse,  Saxony,  Hungary,  and  in  a  cobalt  mine  in  the 
Spanish  Pyrennees.  It  is  also  found  as  an  efflorescence 
in  the  fissures  of  the  lavas  in  some  volcanic  mountains. 


REALGAR.       ORP1MENT.       SULPHURET    OF    ARSENIC. 

Arsenic  in  the  metallic  state,  combined  with  sulphur, 
forming  sulphuret  of  Arsenic,  is  termed,  when  of  a  red 
colour,  Realgar ;  when  yellow,  Orpiment. 

Realgar  is  of  a  red  colour,  passing  into  scarlet,  or 
orange.  It  is  found  disseminated,  in  mass,  or  crystal- 
lised. Its  primitive  crystal  is  the  same  as  that  of  sul- 
phur, an  acute  octoheron.  Haiiy  has  mentioned  six 
Varieties  of  its  crystals.  It  is  very  tender  and  brittle. 

It  occurs  in  the  primitive  mountains  of  Germany, 
Switzerland,  Hungary,  Saxony,  and  Transylvania, 
De  Born  mentions  a  vein  of  it  between  Galicia  and 
Transylvania,  about  twelve  feet  thick.  It  occurs  also 


TO  MIffEBALOGY,  179 

In  the  vicinity  of  volcanoes,  as  of  Etna,  Vesuvius  &c. 

It  is  employed  as  a  paint ;  and  in  Siberia,  it  is  given 
as  a  medicine  in  intermittent  fevers. 

Orpiment  is  of  a  bright  lemon  or  golden  yellow  co 
lour;  it  is  found  disseminated  ;  in  mass  ;  or  crystallized 
in  octahedrons,  which  are  not^well  defined.  It  seems 
rather  to  belong  to  stratified  or  secondary  mountains 
than  primitive  ;  and  is  sometimes  accompanied  by  real- 
gar. 

It  occurs  in  Moldavia  in  Hungary,  in  a  vein  of  Pyri- 
tous  copper  ;  and  in  a  ferruginous  clay  at  Thajoba  ;  it  is 
also  found  in  Transylvania,  Georgia,  Wallachia,  and 
Natolia. 

It  is  employed  as  a  paint.  The  Romans  used  the 
bright  gold  coloured  orpiment  from  Syria  for  that  pur- 
pose, and  esteemed  it  highly. 

Realgar  consists  of  75  of  arsenic,  and  25  of  sulphur  : 
Orpiment,  57  of  arsenic,  and  43  of  sulphur. 

MISPICKLE.       ARSENICAL    PYRITES, 

This  substance  is  of  a  silvery  or  yellowish  white,  and 
occurs  in  mass,  disseminated,  or  crystallized,  in  almost 
all  metalliferous  primitive  mountains ;  and  abounds  in 
many  of  the  tin  and  copper  veins  of  Cornwall.  A  spe- 
cimen analyzed  by  Thompson  yielded  48.1  of  arsenic, 
36.5  of  iron,  and  15.4  of  sulphur;  another  analyzed  by 
Berzelius  yielded  only  arsenic,  and  iron. 

A  variety  containing  from  one  to  ten  per  cent,  of  sil- 
ver, is  found  only  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony. 

The  primitive  crystal  of  Mispickel  is  considered  to 
be  a  right  rhomboidal  prism.  It  is  subject  to  several 
modifications ;  the  crystals  in  my  possession  exhibit  the 
planes  of  7  modifications,  combined  in  34  varieties  of 
form. 


IW  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 


COBALT.* 

Cobalt  is  of  a  grey  colour,  with  a  tinge  of  red,  and 
has  the  magnetic  properties  of  iron  :  it  is  very  difficult 
of  fusion  ;  its  specific  gravity  is  about  8. 

It  has  never  been  found  in  the  pure,  or  native  state  ; 
but  is  mostly  combined  with  arsenic  and  sulphur  ;  some- 
times mineralized  by  the  sulphuric  acid,  &c. 

The  ores  of  cobalt  occur  in  veins  both  in  primitive 
and  in  secondary  mountains :  mostly  accompanied  by 
some  of  the  numerous  ores  of  copper,  sometimes  by 
native  bismuth,  native  silver,  native  arsenic,  and  the 
ores  of  silver. 

In  Cornwall,  cobalt  occasionally  occurs  in  copper 
veins ;  sometimes  in  those  of  a  contrary  direction.  In 
one  of  the  latter  description,  it  is  found  in  a  mine  called 
Huel  Sparnon,  near  Redruth,  (which  is  situated  in  ar- 
gillaceous schistus)  combined  with  bismuth,  nickel,, 
arsenic  and  sulphur :  a  block,  principally  consisting  of 
these  substances,  which  weighed  1333  IDS.  was  lately 
raised  from  that  mine. 

Cobalt  is  very  little  used  except  in  the  arts.  It  is 
brought  to  this  country  reduced  to  the  state  of  an  oxide, 
of  an  intense  blue  colour,  called  zaffre,  which  when 
melted  with  3  parts  of  sand  and  1  of  potash,  forms  a 
blue  glass,  and  when  pounded  very  fine  is  called  smalts, 
and  is  then  employed  to  give  a  blue  tint  to  writing  pa- 
pers, and  in  the  preparation  of  cloths,  laces,  linens, 
muslins,  £c. ;  for  colouring  glass,  and  for  painting 
blues  on  porcelain.  So  intense  is  the  blue  of  zaffre, 
that  one  grain  will  give  a  full  blue  to  240  grains  of 
glass. 

*  A  ioniiderable  quantity  of  ore  from  the  Cobalt  mine  at  Chatham-, 
near  Middletown  in  Connecticut,  was  brought  to  New- York  a  few  years 
ago.  The  metal  is  difleminated  through  a  very  folid  rock,  of  the  horn- 
blende kind.  It  appears  in  fhining  veins  and  fpecks,  almoft  refembling 
arfenical  pyrites.  The  colour  of  the  rock  is  grecnilh. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  1 81 


GREY  COBALT. 

The  Bright  White  Cobalt  of  Aikin  is  commonly  called 
Grey  Cobalt.  It  is  of  a  nearly  silver  white  colour,  but 
has  a  slight  reddish  tinge  :  it  occurs  crystallized ;  yields 
with  difficulty  to  the  knife  ;  is  brittle  ;  attracts  the  mag- 
netic needle  ;  gives  a  spark  by  the  hammer,  and  yields 
a  garlicky  odour.  It  occurs  in  masses  of  various  shapes, 
and  in  crystals  of  great  regularity.  The  form  of  the 
primitive  crystal  is  considered  to  be  the  cube ;  the  crys- 
tals in  my  possession  exhibit  the  planes  of  four  modifi- 
cations in  22  varieties  of  form,  remarkably  resembling 
those  of  the  sulphuret  of  iron. 

It  consists  of  44  parts  of  cobalt,  55.5  of  arsenic,  0.5 
of  sulphur  :  its  specific  gravity  about  6.4. 

It  is  found  in  Norway  ;  at  Tunaberg  in  Sweden ;  An- 
naberg  in  Saxony ;  also,  though  rarely,  in  Swabia  and 
Stiria.  In  Soxony  and  Norway,  it  is  contained  in  beds  of 
micaceous  schistus,  and  is  accompanied  by  quartz,  py- 
rites, &c. 

The  Grey  Cobalt  of  Aikin,  and  which  is  of  a  steel 
grey  colour,  hard  and  brittle,  is  found  in  several  of  the 
copper  veins  of  Cornwall :  it  is  generally  compact  and 
massive,  and  has  much  the  aspect  of  native  arsenic.  It 
consists  of  20  parts  of  cobalt,  24  of  iron,  33  of  arsenic, 
together  with  some  bismuth  and  earth,  and  appears  to 
be  a  variety  of  arsenical  cobalt. 

ARSENICAL    COBALT. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  shining  white  colour,  and  is  found 
in  masses  of  various  forms,  and  crystallized  in  the  form 
of  the  cube  :  Hatty  describes  four  varieties  in  the  form 
of  its  crystals,  which  pass  into  the  octohedron.  It  does 
not  attract  the  magnet.  It  is  found  in  some  of  the  cop- 
per veins  of  Cornwall ;  also  in  France  and  Spain ;  at 
Annaberg  and  Sehneeberg  in  Saxony;  and  in  Bohemia, 
&c.  Klaproth  says  that  it  contains  arsenic,  iron,  and 
sometimes  silver  and  nickel.  It  is  heavier  than  grey 
cobalt ;  its  specific  gravity  being  7.7. 


182  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 


EARTHY    COBALT. 

Earthy  Cobalt  is  of  various  shades  of  yellow,  brown, 
and  black.  It  has  no  metallic  splendour ;  it  sometimes 
occurs  in  masses,  sometimes  almost  pulverulent,  and  is 
remarkably  lighter  than  the  preceding  variety,  not  being 
equal  to  half  its  weight.  It  has  not  been  analyzed,  but 
the  cobalt  is  considered  to  be  in  the  state  of  an  oxide 
in  this  variety. 

It  is  found  in  some  of  the  Cornish  mines ;  and  at  Al- 
derly  Edge  in  Cheshire  in  red  sandstone.  It  is  also  found 
in  Saxony,  at  Schneeberg  and  Kamsdorf ;  and  in  the 
Tyrol,  Thuringia,  &c. 

BED    COBALT. 

Red  Cobalt  is  also  called  arseniated  Cobalt,  on  ac- 
count of  its  being  supposed  to  be  cobalt  mineralized  by 
the  arsenic  acid  .  but  it  has  not  been  analyzed.  It  is 
also  called  Cobalt  Bloom,  and  passes  from  nearly  white, 
through  peach  bloom,  to  a  crimson  red  colour :  it  is 
found  in  small  quantity  in  silver  and  copper  veins.  It 
is  said  to  have  been  found  in  Cornwall ;  in  Stirlingshire  ; 
and  near  Edinburg. 

RED    VITRIOL.       SULPHATE    OF    COBALT. 

Red  Vitriol  has  been  found  only  at  Hessingrund  near 
Neusohl  in  Hungary,  in  the  form  of  translucent  stalac- 
tites of  a  pale  rose  colour,  and  enclosing  drops  of  water. 
It  consists  only  of  cobait  mineralized  by  the  sulphuric 
acid. 


TO   MINERALOGY. 


NICKEL* 

Nickel  is  of  a  yellowish  white  colour ;  it  is  attractable 
bylhe  magnet,  though  in  a  degree  considerably  less  than 
iron  ;  it  is  ductile,  and  nearly  as  malleable  as  silver  ;  its 
specific  gravity  is  about  9.  It  has  never  been  found  pure, 
and  its  ores  are  only  two  in  number. 

It  is  remarkable  that  nickel,  which  is  one  of  the  least 
abundant  metals,  has  been  found  by  analysis  to  enter 
into  the  composition  of  meteoric  iron,  and  of  all  those 
stony  substances  which  in  various  parts  of  Europe  and 
America,  have  fallen  from  the  atmosphere ;  whence 
they  are  termed  meteoric  stones. 

The  uses  of  nickel  are  not  numerous ;  it  is  chiefly 
employed  in  alloys  with  other  metals. 

KUPFERNICKEL.      COPPER  NICKEL* 

Kupfernickel  is  of  a  pale  copper-red  colour,  and  is 
commonly  found  massive  ;  its  fracture  is  granular,  with 
a  metallic  lustre  ;  it  yields  with  difficulty  to  the  knife, 
but  is  brittle.  It  is  hard  enough  to  give  sparks  by  the 
steel,  giving  out  an  arsenical  odour.  It  has  not  been 
analyzed  ;  but  it  is  ascertained  that  it  consists  principally 
of  nickel  and  arsenic,  combined  with  sulphur,  iron,  co- 
balt and  bismuth. 

It  is  most  abundantly  found  at  Joachimsthal  in  Bohe- 
mia ;  Schneeberg,  Freyberg,  and  Annaberg,  in  Saxony ; 
and  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz.  It  is  also  met  with  in 
Cornwall  ;  at  Allemont  in  France  ;  in  Stiria  ;  in  Arra- 
gon  in  Spain ;  and  at  Koly  wan  in  Siberia.  It  is  met 

*  I  have  ftrong  reafons  to  believe  Nickel  is  only  a  modification  of  iron  ; 
though  the  great  authorities  lean  the  other  way,  favouring  the  notion  of 
its  being  a  diftin&  metal.  So  it  is  now  to  be  confidered. 

It  is  reported  on  good  evidence  that  nickel  accompanies  copper  in  Ma- 
ryland, and  cobalt  in  Connecticut.  It  was  an  ingredient  in  the  atmof- 
pheric  ftones,  that  fell  at  Wefton  in  Connecticut,  in  Dec.  1807,  hi  fuch 
combination  that  the  metallic  iron,  which  was  a  large  ingredient  in  the 
ftone,  was  believed  to  be  moftly  alloyed  by  nickel,  (xx  Med.  Rsfos.p.  203. 
— "30 


184          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

with  principally  in  veins  in  primitive  mountains,  accom- 
panying the  ores  of  silver,  cobalt  and  copper. 

NICKEL  OCHRE. 

Nickel  Ochre  has  only  been  met  with  in  the  pulveru- 
lent form,  generally  investing  the  preceding  ore  of  nick- 
el, and  sometimes  the  ores  of  cobalt.  It  has  been  de- 
tected in  the  chrysoprase  (to  which  it  probably  imparts 
its  green  colour.)  and  in  the  soft  green  substance  in 
which  it  is  found. 

It  is  considered  to  be  an  oxide  of  nickel :  but  has  not 
been  analyzed. 


SILVER.* 

Silver,  when  pure,  is  soft,  opake,  and  flexible ;  a  piece 
one-tenth  of  an  inch  in  diameter  will  support  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  pounds  without  breaking.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  about  10.  It  is  very  white,  shining,  and  malle- 
able, and  is  found  in  the  pure  or  native  state  ;  its  ores 
are  numerous.  It  occurs  combined  with  antimony,  iron, 
arsenic,  lead,  copper,  bismuth,  alumine,  and  silex  ;  and 
mineralized  by  sulphur,  and  by  the  carbonic,  sulphuric, 
and  muriatic  acids. 

The  ores  of  silver,  whatever  may  be  their  composi- 
tion, are  principally  met  with  in  primitive  rocks,  but  not 
of  the  oldest  formation;  they  are  also  found  in  veins  in 
secondary  rocks  ;  but  never  in  alluvial  deposites.  Silver 

*  Native  Silver  was  difcovered  at  Singling,  N.  Y.  and  the  mine  work- 
ed as  long  ago  as  1775.  When  I  vifited  the  fpot  in  1816,  the  fhaft  and 
every  part  was  filled  with  water.  A  few  fpecimens  of  the  native  filver 
found  there  are  full  extant.  There  is  a  little  piece  in  my  collection.  The 
quantity  was  very  fmall,  and  the  adventurers  loft  money  by  the  under- 
taking. Inconfiderable  quantities  have  been  obferved  in  a  few  other  places. 
A  rich  collection  from  Chili,  was  made  by  Mr.  Taber,  and  brought  to 
New- York.  I  faw  thefe  fuperb  fpecimens  feveral  times.  It  is  faid  that 
filver  exifts  in  the  copper  of  the  Schuyler  mine,  near  New- York,  to  the 
amount  of  (corn  4  to  7  ounces  in  xoo  Ibs.— f6  Med,  Rcfns. 


£ 

TO   MIJJERALOGT. 

therefore  is  not  regarded  as  being  one  of  the  most  an- 
cient metals. 

The  mines  of  Peru  and  Mexico  furnish  annually  ten 
times  more  silver  than  all  the  mines  of  Europe  united. 

According  to  Helms,  the  mine  of  Jauricocha,  in  Peru 
\vhich  is  about  three  miles  above  the  sea,  contains  a  pro- 
digious mass  of  porous  brown  iron-stone,  half  a  mile 
long,  as  much  broad,  and  about  one  hundred  feet  in 
depth,  which  is  throughout  interspersed  with  pure  silver; 
and  contains  a  white  argillaceous  vein,  which  is  very 
much  richer.  It  is  asserted  that  Jauricocha  and  the  mines 
of  the  district  surrounding  it,  have  yielded  forty  millions 
of  dollars  in  a  year. 

The  uses  of  silver  are  numerous,  and  for  the  most 
part  obvious.  In  coin,  silver  is  alloyed  by  one  part  of 
copper  to  fifteen  of  silver.  The  yellow  colour,  used  in- 
porcelain  painting,  is  oxide  of  silver. 

NATIVE  SILVER. 

Native  silver,  when  pure,  is  white,  and  has  a  shining: 
metallic  lustre,  but  it  is  generally  tarnished  externally ; 
it  is  softj  flexible,  and  malleable  ;  it  occurs  massive,  ca- 
pillary, ramose,  and  crystallized  in  cubes  and  octohe- 
drons ;  but  as  the  structure  of  the  crystals  is  not  of  that 
description  which  admits  of  regular  cleavage,  their  pri* 
mitive  form  has  not  been  determined.  It  is  less  mallea- 
ble than  silver  that  has  been  melted  in  the  furnace,  on- 
occount,  as  it  is  supposed,  of  its  being  generally  alloyed 
with  small  portions  of  other  metals  ;  as  gold,  copper^, 
arsenic,  and  iron.  A  specimen  assayed  by  Dr.  Fordyce, 
yielded  28  per  cent,  of  gold  :  when  this  metal  is  mixed 
with  it,  the  colour  approaches  to  that  of  pale  brass  j 
when  alloyed  by  copper,  it  has  a  tinge  of  red. 

Native  silver  has  been  found  in  rocks  of  almost  every 
description  ;  principally  in  the  newer  primitive.  In  the 
mines  of  Kongsberg  in  Norway,  now  almost  exhausted, 
it  was  found  in  carbonate  and  fluyte  of  lime,  &c. ;  at 
Schlangenberg  in  Siberia,  on  sulphate  of  barytes :  at 
Allemont,  it  is  disseminated  in  a  ferruginous  clay.  In 
Cornwall,  it  was  found  in  the  Herland  mine  imbedded 
in  a  soft  marl,  and  accompanied  by  sulphuret  of  lead>, 


1S6  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

cobalt,  quartz,  &c.  in  a  vein  passing  through  argillaceous 
schistus  :  this  vein  ran  north  and  south,  intersecting 
veins  of  copper,  which  always  in  Cornwall  run  east  and 
west.  But  native  silver  is  found  in  Europe,  most  plen- 
tifully in  the  mines  of  Saxony,  Bohemia,  and  Swabia. 

ANTIMON1AL  SILVER. 

Antimonial  Silver  is  of  a  yellowish  white,  has  a  shining 
metallic  lustre,  and  is  often  tarnished  externally:  it 
occurs  in  grains,  massive,  and  crystallized  in  prismatic, 
but  not  very  determinate  crystals.  It  consists  of  silver 
united  with  antimony  in  variable  proportion ;  but  the 
former,  according  to  two  analyses,  is  not  less  than  77 
per  cent,  of  the  mass.  It  is  not  abundant ;  but  is  met 
with  in  veins  of  calcareous  spar  and  sulphate  of  barytes, 
accompanied  by  native  silver,  sulphuret  of  lead,  £c.  at 
Guadalcanal  in  Spain,  and  in  Swabia. 

An  ore  consisting  of  about  12  parts  of  silver,  united 
with  about  44  of  iron,  35  of  arsenic,  and  4  of  antimony. 
is  called  Arsenical  Antimonial  silver. 

SULPHURET  OF  SILVER.      VITREOUS  SILVER. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  dark  metallic  lead  grey  colour, 
and  is  often  tarnished  externally ;  it  is  soft,  malleable, 
easily  cut  by  the  knife,  and  occurs  of  indeterminate 
shapes,  capillary,  ramose  and  crystallized  in  the  cube, 
octohedron  and  dodecahedron ;  but  not  admitting  oi 
regular  cleavage,  the  primitive  form  of  its  crystal  has 
not  been  determined.  It  consists  of  85  parts  of  silver, 
and  15  of  sulphur.  Its  tenacity  is  so  great,  that  Augustus^ 
king  of  Poland,  had  some  medals  struck  of  it. 

It  occurs  in.  veins,  mingled  with  other  ores  of  silver, 
and  accompanied  by  native  silver,  sulphate  of  barytes. 
and  sulphuret  of  lead,  iron,  copper  and  zinc.  It  is 
found  in  the  Saxon,  Bohemian,  Swabian,  Hungarian  and 
Norwegian  mines,  and  it  is  said  to  have  been  found  in 
Cornwall :  but  the  most  brilliant  specimens  are  brought 
from  Siberia,  consisting  of  groupes  of  crystals  covered 
by  capillary  native  silver,  2  or  3  inches  in  length. 


TO  MINERALOGT.  187 


RED  SILVER.       RUBY  SILVER. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  brilliant  red  colour,  and  is  fre- 
quently transparent ;  it  occurs  dendritic,  massive,  and 
crystallized,  generally  in  the  hexahedral  prism,  which 
is  sometimes  modified  ;  it  assumes  about  40  varieties  in 
the  forms  of  its  crystals,  the  primitive  of  which  is  an 
obtuse  rhomboid  of  109°  28'  and  70°  32',  according  to 
Hauy.  It  is  brittle,  yields  easily  to  the  knife,  and 
consists  of  about  70  parts  of  sulphuret  of  silver,  combi- 
ned with  about  29  parts  of  sulphuret  of  antimony.  It  is 
usually  found  in  veins,  mingled  with  other  minerals ;  such 
as  sulphuret  of  lead,  cobalt,  native  arsenic,  realgar,  grey 
copper,  spathose  iron,  iron  pyrites,  sulphuret  of  zinc,  &c. 
and  is  met  with  in  all  silver  mines;  but  principally  in 
those  of  Freyberg,  St.  Marie-aux-mines,  and  Guadal- 
canal, &c. 

BRITTLE   8ULPHUHET   OF    SILVER.       BRITTLE    SILVER 
GLANCE. 

The  colour  of  this  mineral  is  dark  grejr,  passing  into 
iron  black,  and  is  of  a  bright  and  shining  metallic  lustre 
externally ;  it  is  soft  and  brittle,  and  occurs  massive, 
and  in  hexahedral  prisms  variously  terminated,  and  in 
quadrangular  tables.  It  consists  of  66.5  parts  of  silver, 
10  of  antimony,  12  of  sulphur,  5  of  iron,  0.5  of  cop- 
per and  arsenic,  and  one  of  earthy  impurities.  It  is  met 
with  in  veins  containing  some  other  ores  of  silver  and 
sulphuret  of  lead,  £c.  in  Hungary,  Transylvania,  Saxo- 
ny, Bohemia,  Peru,  £c. 

WHITE    SILVER, 

White  silver  is  of  a  light  lead  grey  colour,  passing  into 
steel  grey ;  it  is  found  massive  and  disseminated,  and 
has  a  metallic  lustre ;  it  is  soft  and  somewhat  brittle. 
Its  specific  gravity  is  5.3  ;  it  consists  of  48.06  of  lead, 
20.4  of  silver,  7.88  of  antimony,  2.25  of  iron,  12.25  of 
sulphur,  7  of  alumine,  and  0.25  of  silex.  It  has  been 
procured  from  the  mine  Himraelfurst  near  Freyberg  in 


188  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

Saxony,  where  it  was  accompanied  by  other  ores  of 
silver,  and  with  antimony,  brown  spar,  and  calcareous 
spar.  Some  specimens  have  been  met  with  passing 
into  brittle  sulphuret  of  silver;  others  into  plumose  an- 
timony. 

BLACK  SILTE1L 

%  Black  silver  is  iron  black,  passing  into  a  steel  grey 
colour ;  it  occurs  disseminated,  massive,  and  crystalli- 
zed in  tetrahedrons ;  it  is  somewhat  hard,  brittle,  and 
has  a  shining  metallic  lustre.  It  is  by  some  considered 
to  be  an  argentiferous  variety  of  the  sulphuret  of  cop- 
per. 

BISMUTHIC    SILVER 

This  mineral  is  of  a  light  lead  grey  colour,  which' 
becomes  deeper  on  exposure  to  the  air  :  it  occurs  dis- 
seminated, rarely  massive,  and  consists  of  33  parts  of 
lead,  27  of  bismuth,  15  of  silver,  4.3  of  iron,  0.9  of 
copper,  and  16.3  of  sulphur.  It  has  only  been  found 
in  a  mine  in  the  valley  of  Shapbach  in  the  Black  Forest; 
and  was  accompanied  by  quartz,  hornstone,  and  copper 
pyrites. 

CARBONATE  OP  SILVER. 

Carbonate  of  silver  is  greyish,  passing  into  iron  black, 
and  has  a  glimmering  or  shining  metallic  lustre.  It  is 
soft,  somewhat  brittle,  and  heavy ;  and  consists  of  72.5 
per  cent,  of  silver,  12  of  carbonic  acid,  15.5  of  oxide 
of  antimony,  and  a  trace  of  copper.  It  was  found  about 
thirty  years  ago,  accompanied  by  native  silver,  sulphu- 
ret  of  silver,  and  grey  copper,  in  a  vein  of  sulphate  of 
barytes  at  Altwolfatch. 

HORN    SILVER.       MURIATE    OF    SILVER. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  pearl  grey  colour;  occasionally 
it  is  greenish  blue  or  reddish  brown,  and  is  remarkable 
for  being  SQ  soft  as  easily  to  take  the  impression  gf  the 


TO    MINERALOGY.  189 

nail,  and  for  its  translucency.  It  has  a  waxy  lustre  ;  is 
fusible  in  the  flame  of  a  candle,  and  is  generally  found 
investing  and  massive,  rarely  crystallized  in  small  cubes. 
The  massive  consists  of  88.7  per  cent,  of  muriate  of  sil- 
ver, six  of  oxide  of  iron,  1.75  of  alumine,  and  0.25  of 
sulphuric  acid.  It  has  been  found  at  Andreasburg  in 
the  Hartz,  in  the  Mexican,  Peruvian,  Saxon,  and  Bo- 
hemian mines;  those  of  John^eorgenstadt  formerly  af- 
forded large  quantities  of  it.  It  is  also  met  with  in 
Hungary  at  Schemnitz ;  in  France  near  Allemont,  and 
in  several  mines  in  Cornwall,  though  not  abundantly. 
It  has  been  remarked  that  Horn  silver  is  commonly  met 
with  near  the  surface  in  veins,  and  frequently  with  or- 
ganic remains. 

A  variety  is  met  with  of  a  brownish  white,  but  exter- 
nally of  a  slate  blue  colour ;  it  is  massive,  dull,  opake, 
and  earthy  ;  and  consists  of  about  33  parts  of  muriate  of 
silver,  combined  with  about  67  of  aim/line.  It  is  called 
Buttermilk  silver,  and  is  found  at  Andreasberg  in  the 
Hartz. 


COPPER.* 

Copper,  in  its  pure  state,  is  so  tenacious,  that  a  wire 
one-tenth  of  an  inch  in  diameter  will  support  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety-nine  pounds  and  a  half,  without  break- 
ing :  its  specific  gravity  is  about  8. 

Copper  is  harder  and  more  elastic  than  silver ;  and  is 
the  most  sonorous  of  metals  :  in  respect  of  fusibility  it  is 
between  gold  and  iron.  It  is  of  a  pale  red  colour,  with  a 
tinge  of  yellow.  Its  ores  are  numerous.  It  occurs  in  the 

*  Native  Copper  has  been  found  in  many  places.  I  mention  a  few  of 
the  localities.— In  conftructing  the  fortifications  at  the  Narrows  on  Staten- 
ifland,  between  the  city  of  New- York  and  the  ocean,  feveral  pieces  of  na- 
tive copper  were  found  by  the  workmen  in  that  alluvial  foil.  The  par- 
cels were  buried  at  different  depths.  Mr.  Dawfon  brought  me  fmall  flat- 
ted pieces  of  native  copper  from  Virginia,  which,  if  I  recollect  right,  were 
found  near  Frederickiburgh.  At  WoodbriJge,  N.  J.  there  is  a  native  cop- 
per of  remarkable  beauty. 

' 


190  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

pure  or  native  state  ;  also  combined  with  iron,  antimony, 
silver,  arsenic,  and  with  silex,  lime,  and  water,  arid  mi- 
neralized by  oxygen,  sulphur,  "and  by  the  carbonic,  mu- 
riatic, phosphoric  and  arsenic  acids. 

The  greater  part  of  the  ores  of  Copper  seem  to  belong 
chiefly,  though  not  exclusively,  to  primitive  countries  ; 
and  are  found  both  in  veins  and  in  beds.  Native  copper, 
the  red  oxide,  the  sulphuret,  yellow  copper,  grey  cop- 
per, and  the  arseniate,  have  been  found  principally  in 
these  countries ;  the  localities  of  the  phosphate  and  mu- 
riate are  less  known;  but  the  variety  of  green  carbonate, 
termed  Malachite,  is  said  to  have  been  met  with  in  every 
variety  of  country  The  mines  of  Tunaberg  in  Sweden, 
and  some  others,  as  well  as  that  of  Ecton  in  Stafford- 
shire, (which  yielded  the  yellow  copper  ore)  are  situated 
in  compact  limestone.  The  mines  of  Cornwall  are  situ- 
ated both  in  argillaceous  schistus  and  granite. 

Veins  containing  copper  are  not  esteemed  to  be  of  so 
ancient  formation  as  those  enclosing  tin  ;  because,  when 
the  veins  meet  with  each  other,  those  of  tin  are  always 
traversed  by  those  of  copper  ;  but  the  ore?  of  both  these 
metals  are  often  found  in  the  same  veins  in  Cornwall ; 
the  copper  being  generally  beneath  the  tin. 

Mines  of  Copper  are  largely  wrought  in  England, 
Germany,  Sweden,  and  Siberia  :  those  of  Spain,  France, 
Ireland,  Norway,  and  Hungary,  are  much  less  extensive 
and  numerous.  Copper  has  been  found  in  Asia,  Africa, 
and  America,  in  considerable  abundance. 

The  uses  of  copper  in  all  its  various  states  are  almost 
endless,  and  only,  if  at  all,  inferior  to  those  of  iron.  Al- 
loyed with  certain  proportions  of  zinc  it  forms  brass, 
pinchbeck,  tinsel,  and  Dutch  gold,  in  imitation  of  gold 
jeaf.  With  a  small  proportion  of  tin,  copper  forms 
bronze  or  bell  metal ;  but  if  the  proportion  of  tin  amount 
to  one-third,  it  forms  speculum  metal,  used  for  reflecting 
telescopes.  With  zinc  and  iron,  it  forms  tutenag.  In 
porcelain  painting,  the  green  is  obtained  from  copper. 


** 


TO  MINERALOGY 


NATIVE  COPPERV* 

Native  copper  is  of  a  yellow  red  colour,  has  a  metal- 
lic lustre,  and  is  often  tarnished  externally  of  various  co- 
lours ;  it  occurs  massive,  capillary,  dendritic,  and  crys- 
tallized, and  is  malleable  and  flexible.  It  assumes  the 
form  of  the  cube  and  of  the  regular  octohedron ;  but 
not  possessing  that  structure  which  allows  of  regular 
cleavage,  either  of  these  solids  may  be  considered  as  the 
primitive  form  of  its  crystals,  which  are  very  numerous, 
but  not  very  intelligible,  on  account  of  their  extreme 

*  There  is  reafon  to  believe,  that  native  copper  exifts  in  larger  blocks  or 
maffes,  on  the  Couth  fide  of  Lake  Superior,  than  in  any  other  part  of  the 
world.  It  is  found  too  at  Green  Bay,  on  the  weft  fide  of  Lake  Michigan. 
J  have  fpecimens  of  both.  The  metal  is  remarkably  pure,  as  appears  by  the 
following  analyfis,  made  at  the  mint  of  Utrecht,  in  the  Netherlands,  at 
the  requcft  of  Dr.  Euftis,  the  Minifter  Plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States,  who  carried  fpecimens  with  him  to  Europe. 

The  report  from  the  mint,  is  in  thefe  words  : — "  From  every  appear- 
ance, the  piece  of  copper  feems  to  have  been  taken  from  a  mafs  that  has 
undergone  fufion.  The  melting  was,  however,  not  an  operation  of  art, 
but  a  natural  effect  caufed  by  a  volcanic  eruption. 

The  flream  of  lava  probably  carried  along  in  its  courfe  the  aforefaid 
body  of  copper  that  had  formed  into  one  collection,  as  faft  as  it  was  heat- 
ed enough  to  run,  from  all  parts  of  the  mine.  The  united  mafs  was  pro- 
bably borne,  in  this  manner,  to  the  place  where  it  now  refts  in  the  foil. 

The  cryftallized  form,  obfervable  every  where  on  the  original  furface 
of  the  metal  that  has  been  left  untouched  or  undifturbed,  leads  me  to  pre- 
fume  that  the  fufion  it  has  fuftained  was  by  a  procefs  of  nature  ;  fince  this 
cryftallized  furface  can  only  be  fuppofed  to  have  been  produced  by  a  flow 
and  gradual  cooling,  whereby  the  copper  affumed  regular  figures  as  ics 
heat  paffed  into  other  fubftances  and  the  metal  itl'elf  lay  expofed  to  the 
air. 

As  to  the  properties  of  the  copper  itfelf,  it  may  be  obferved  that  its  co* 
lour  is  a  clear  red  ;  that  it  is  peculiarly  qualified  for  rolling  and  forging  \ 
and  that  its  excellence  is  indicated  by  its  refemblance  to  the  copper  ufuafiy 
employed  by  the  Englifh  for  plating. 

The  dealers  in  copper  call  this  fort  Peruvian  copper •,  to  diftinguifh  it  from 
that  of  S-weJen,  which  is  much  lefs  malleable.  The  fpecimen,  under  con- 
iideration,  is  incomparably  better  than  Swedifli  copper,  as  well  on  account 
of  its  brilliant  colour,  as  for  the  finenefs  of  its  pores,  and  its  extreme  duc- 
tility. 

Notwithftanding,  befere  it  is  ufed  in  manufactures,  or  for  the  coining 
of  money,  it  ought  to  be  melted  anew,  for  the  purpofc  of  purifying  it  from 
fuch  earthy  particles  as  it  may  contain. 

The  examination  of  the  North- American  copper,  in  the  fample  received 
from  his  excellency  the  minifter,  by  the  operations  of  the  cupel  and  the 
teft  by  fire,  has  proved  that  it  does  not  contain  the  fmalleft  particle  of  fil- 
ver,  gold,  or  any  other  metal." 


192  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

liability  to  that  kind  of  compound  structure  which  consti- 
tutes the  made.  The  crystals  in  my  possession  exhibit 
about  80  varieties  of  form,  and  were  all  brought  from 
Cornwall  ;  where  Native  Copper  has  occasionally  been 
found  in  considerable  abundance,  accompanied  by  the  red 
oxide,  (into  which  it  sometimes  passes,)  and  occasionally 
by  the  green  carbonate  and  the  arseniate  of  Copper;  and 
by  quartz  and  fluate  of  lime.  The  copper  veins  of  Corn- 
wall are  situated  both  in  argillaceous  schistus  and  gra- 
nite. Native  Copper  is  occasionally  found  disseminated 
in  the  serpentine  of  the  Lizard  point  in  that  county. 

Native  Copper  is  rare  in  France  ;  but  is  very  abun- 
dant in  some  parts  of  the  Uralian  mountains  in  Siberia  ; 
at  Herngrund  in  Saxony,  the  Hartz,  at  Fahlun  in  Sweden, 
and  near  the  Copper  Mine  River  within  the  arctic  circle 
in  America.  That  of  Japan  and  that  of  Brazil,  are  said 
to  contain  a  considerable  proportion  of  gold.  Quartz, 
fluate  of  lime,  carbonate  of  lime,  and  sulphate  of  barytes, 
usually  accompany  Native  Copper  ;  the  two  latter  have 
rarely  been  met  with  in  Cornwall,  and  not  at  all  accom- 
panying Native  Copper. 

SUtPHURET  OF  COPPER.*   GLANCE  COPPER. 

Sulphuret  of  copper  is  of  a  lead  or  iron  grey  colour  ; 
it  has  a  shining  metallic  lustre,  and  yields  easily  to  the 
knife.  It  occurs  massive,  and  crystallized.  The  form 
of  its  primitive  crystal  is  the  hexahedral  prism,  which  pas- 
ses into  an  obtuse,  and  also  into  an  acute  dodecahedron, 
with  triangular  planes  ;  the  crystals  in  my  possession  ex- 
hibit 83  varieties  of  form  besides  2  or  3  macles  :  they 
are  all  from  Cornwall,  where  the  suiphuret  of  copper 
has  been  abundantly  found  in  several  mines  ;  sometimes 
intermixed  with  the  yellow  copper  ore,  and  occasion- 

*  Found  in  the  red  fand-ftone  formation,  near  New- York,  accompanied 
with  the  oxyd  and  carbonate  of  copper  ;  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
New  Haven  and  Baltimore.  (Cleaveland  and  Gilbs.}  Found  at  the  Schuyler 
mine  in  Bergen  county,  (N.  J.)  In  the  green- ftone  mountains  running 
north  and  fouth,  in  Connecticut,  between  the  Sound  and  Simsbury,  with 
native  copper  and  the  red  oxyd  of  the  fame.  (Silliman.') — At  Perkiomen  in  • 
Montgomery  county,  and  near  Chefter  in  Delaware  county,  Pennfylvania, 
(Conrad  and  Wl*tarl)  and  in  feverai  other  places.  I  have  received  very 
fine  yellow  fulphuret  of  copper,  from  fome  place  in  the  upper  country  of 
Georgia. 


TO   MINERALOGY.  193 

ally  accompanied  by  the  succeeding  variety  ;  and  by 
spathose  iron  ore  and  fluate  of  lime.  It  is  also  found  at 
Llandidno  in  Caernarvonshire,  and  at  Middleton  Tyas, 
in  Yorkshire.  It  occurs  also  in  Siberia,  Sweden,  and 
Saxony ;  principally,  as  it  is  said,  in  primitive  moun- 
tains. 

The  crystallized  consists  of  81  parts  of  copper,  and  19 
of  sulphur  ;  the  massive  contains  rather  less  copper, 
about  the  same  sulphur,  with  about  2  per  cent,  of  oxide 
of  iron,  and  1  ofsilex. 

PURPLE    COPPER.       BUNTKUPFERERZ. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  tombac  brown  colour  ;  and  has  an 
irridescent  tarnish ;  it  occurs  massive,  capillary,  and 
crystallized  :  it  is  found  in  the  cube,  mostly  with  curvi- 
linear faces,  passing  into  the  perfect  octohedron.  It 
consists  of  about  70  parts  of  copper,  19  of  sulphur,  and 
7  of  iron.  It  is  generally  found  in  the  same  countries  as 
the  preceding  variety,  and  accompanying  it. 


GREY    COPPER. 


Grey  copper  is  mostly  of  a  steel  grey  colour ;  it  oc- 
curs massive  and  crystallized,  and -has  a  brilliant  metallic 
lustre  ;  it  is  brittle,  but  is  much  harder  than  the  sulphu- 
ret  of  copper  ;  it  is  found  in  the  cube,  passing  into  the 
regular  octohedron,  and  in  the  dodecahedron  with  rhom- 
bic planes.  I  am  not  aware  that  it  has  been  analyzed. 
I  possess  crystals  of  it  in  26  varieties  of  form  ;  they  are 
all  from  Cornwall. 

This  mineral  seems  mostly  to  be  confounded  with 
the  Fahlerz  of  Werner,  Cuivre  gris  of  Ha'dy,  which  was 
formerly  considered  as  a  silver  ore,  and  in  which  cop- 
per, iron,  antimony,  silver,  and  sulphur,  enter  into  com- 
bination ;  some  varieties  also  yield  arsenic  :  it  crystal- 
lizes in  the  form  of  the  regular  tetrahedron,  variously 
modified. 

R 


194        ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

Grey  Copper  is  found  in  Cornwall  in  the  same  veins 
as  the  two  preceding  varieties  ;  the  Fahlerz,  I  believe, 
has  not  been  found  there  ;  but  has  been  met  with  in 
the  silver  mines  at  Beeralston  in  Devonshire,  and  in 
Wales.  It  is  found  also  in  Transylvania,  the  Hartz. 
Saxony,  &c. 

YELLOW  COPPER.       COPPER  PYRITES. 

This  mineral  is  of  various  shades  of  yellow,  and  is 
often  irridescently  tarnished  externally  ;  it  occurs  mas- 
sive, stalactitic,  and  crystallized  in  the  form  of  the  regu- 
lar tetrahedron,  which  is  its  primitive  form  ;  its  varieties 
are  not  numerous.  It  has  a  metallic  lustre,  and  yields 
easily  to  the  knife.  It  consists  of  copper  united  with 
variable  proportions  of  iron  and  of  sulphur  :  in  general, 
the  copper  does  not  exceed  20  per  cent.  It  is  the  most 
abundant  of  all  the  ores  of  copper,  and  is  the  chief  ore  of 
the  Cornish  mines,  where  it  is  found  in  veins,  passing 
through  argillaceous  schistus  and  granite.  It  is  met  with 
in  Derbyshire,  and  was  abundant  in  the  Ecton  mine 
in  Staffordshire  in  limestone.  It  is  generally  accom- 
panied by  quartz,  iron  pyrites,  aud  sometimes  by  mis- 
pickel  and  the  sulphuret  of  copper.  In  the  mine  cal- 
led Huel  To  wan,  it  was  accompanied  by  spathose  iron. 

WHITE  COPPER.* 

White  Copper  seems  to  be  a  variety  of  the  preceding 
species,  distinguished  by  its  being  of  a  silvery  white  or 
pale  brass  yellow  colour,  and  by  its  affording  an  arseni- 
cal odour  before  the  blow- pipe  ;  its  whiteness  may  per- 
haps be  attributed  to  the  arsenic  it  contains :  it  has  not 
been  analyzed.  It  is  not  common,  but  occasionally  ac- 
companies yellow  copper  ;  it  is  said  to  have  been  found 
in  the  mine  called  Huel  Gorland  in  Cornwall 

*  At  Fairfield,  Connecticut,  in  a  compact  ore  of  Copper,  whofe  recent 
fracture  is  metallic  white,  which  foon  turns,  by  expofure,  to  a  dirty  white, 
and  in  time  acquires  a  green  hue.  It  contains  arfenic.  (Silliman.) 


TO  MINERALOGY.  195 


RUBY  COPPER.  RED  OXIDE  OF  COPPER.f 

This  beautiful  mineral  is  of  a  fine  crimson  red  colour, 
and  Is  frequently  translucent,  but  externally,  is  mostly 
tarnished,  sometimes  of  a  metallic  grey  colour  ;  it  yields 
easily  to  the  knife,  and  is  brittle  ;  it  occurs  massive,  and 
crystallized  in  the  regular  octohedron,  which  passes  into 
an  acute  rhomboid,  the  cube,  and  the  dodecahedron 
with  rhombic  planes :  the  crystals  in  my  possession  are 
very  numerous  and  exhibit  about  70  varieties  of  form  ; 
all  of  them  are  from  Cornwall.  The  specific  gravity  of 
the  red  oxide  of  copper  is  3.9  ;  it  consists  of  91  copper 
and  9  of  oxygen.  A  variety  of  the  red  oxide  of  copper, 
is  met  with  in  fine  capillary  crystals  which  are  lengthened 
cubes;  another  of  a  red  or  reddish  brown  colour,  com- 
pact, and  with  an  earthy  fracture,  is  called  Tile  ore. 

This  mineral  is  found  at  Moldava  in  Hungary  ;  near. 
Cologne  ;  in  the  eastern  part  of  tne  Uralian  mountains 
in  Siberia,  accompanied  by  the  variety  of  green  carbo- 
nate of  copper  called  Malachite;  and  has  been  met 
with  in  several  mines  in  Cornwall,  and  in  considerable 
abundance  in  those  called  Huel  Unity  and  Huel  Gor- 
land,  which  are  situated  both  in  granite  and  argillaceous 
schistus ;  the  vein  was  principally  occupied  by  a  brown 
ferruginous  friable  substance,  called  gossan  by  the  miner; 
in  the  same  vein,  but  above  the  red  copper,  which  was 
generally  accompanied  by  native  copper  and  sometimes 
black  copper,  considerable  quantities  of  arseniated  cop- 
per, and  arseniated  iron  were  met  with. 

BLACK  COPPEK. 

Black  copper  occurs  in  a  pulverulent  form,  investing 
some  other  of  the  ores  of  copper,  chiefly  the  red  oxide  ; 
it  is  generally  considered  to  be  an  oxide  of  copper,  but  it 
gives  out  sulphureous  vapours  before  the  blowpipe. 

t  The  feveral  localities  of  this  ore,  are  in  Virginia,  on  the  Fairfax 
eftate,  near  the  Shenandoah,  (/%<&«)  ; — in  Pcnnfylvania,  near  Lancafter, 
with  malachite  ;— in  the  Schuyler  Copper  mine,  near  New- York ;  and  in 
the  Connecticut  mountains,  mentioned  in  a  preceding  note. 


196  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION* 


CARBONATE  OF  COPPER.* 

Carbonate  of  copper  is  of  various  shades  of  blue  and 
of  green.  The  Blue  is  chiefly  of  a  beautiful  azure  blue, 
and  is  found  in  small  globular  masses,  massive,  earthy, 
and  crystallized  ;  it  frequently  accompanies  the  succeed- 
ing variety.  I  possess  crystals  of  it,  in  about  30  varieties 
of  form,  but  they  are  not  very  intelligible  ;  they  appear 
to  be  principally  of  that  variety  which  is  termed  the  sec- 
tion of  the  octohcdron  ;  which  solid  is  esteemed  to  be 
their  primitive  form.  It  is  not  of  abundant  occurrence, 
but  has  been  met  with  in  the  mining  countries  of  Bohe- 
mia, Saxony,  the  Hartz,  Siberia,  &ic  ;  also  in  Cornwall, 
and  at  Wanluck-head,  and  the  Lead  hills  in  Scotland. 
Some  crystals  from  France  very  nearly  approach  the 
cube,  others  are  rhomboidal,  but  not  determinate, 

The  Green  Carbonate  of  copper,  or  Malachite,  is 
found  massive,  and  in  slender  prismatic  crystals  or  fibres, 
which  are  of  a  silky  lustre,  and  aggregated  in  bundles, 
or  stellated  ;  frequently  it  is  almost  massive,  with  a  silky 
iibrous  texture.  It  does  not  present  regular  crystals, 
This  beautiful  mineral  is  said  occasionally  to  accompany 
the  greatest  part  of  the  other  ores  of  copper.  The  finest 
specimens  are  brought  from  the  Uralian  mountains  in 
Siberia  :  it  is  also  met  with  in  the  copper  mines  of  Sax- 
ony, Bohemia,  the  Tyrol,  Hungary,  &c.  ;  and  some- 
times, though  rarely,  in  Cornwall.  The  massive  green 
variety  consists  of  about  58  copper,  12  oxygen,  18  car- 
bonate acid,  and  11  of  water.  !  he  blue  variety  consists 
of  the  same  elements,  varying  somewhat  in  their  re- 
spective proportions  :  and  there  is  a  variety  of  the  green 
carbonate  of  copper,  called  Chrysocolla,  which  consists  of 
the  same  substances  in  smaller  proportions,  together 


*  Both  the  mountain  blue  and  mountain  green  forms  of  copper  exift  fpa- 
ringly,  but  with  diftinct  characters,  at  Pcrkiomen,  Bergen,  Cnefhirc,  and, 
it  is  believed,  in  fome  other  places. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  19(7 

with  about  26  per  cent,  of  silex  ;  it  is  of  various  shades 
of  green  and  brown,  and  of  very  different  degrees  of 
hardness ;  it  presents,  when  broken,  a  conchoidal  frac- 
ture, and  a  resinous  shining  lustre.  It  is  found  accom- 
panying the  foregoing  varieties  ;  and  has  been  met  with- 
in Cornwall,  and  in  the  vale  of  Newlands,  near  Keswick 
in  Cumberland. 

The  Turquoise,  so  called  because  it  was  first  brought 
from  Turkey,  is  said  to  consist  of  the  bone  or  tooth  of 
an  animal  in  the  fossil  state,  penetrated  by  blue  or  green 
carbonate  of  copper.  It  is  also  brought  from  Persia. 

EMERALD  COPPER.       DIOPTASE. 

The  Dioptase  is  of  an  emerald-green  colour;  and  is 
met  with  crystallized  only  in  the  dodecahedron,  the 
primitive  form  of  which  is  an  obtuse  rhomboid.  It  is 
an  extremely  rare  mineral,  having  only  been  found  in  a 
vein  in  Daouria,  on  the  Chinese  and  Russian  frontiers  ;. 
it  was  accompanied  by  malachite  copper.  It  is  com- 
posed of  about  29  parts  of  oxide  of  copper,  43  of  carbo- 
nate of  lime,  and  28  of  silex.  The  portion  from  which* 
the  anatysis  was  made,  was  only  four  grains. 

SULPHATE  OF  COPTER. 

Sulphate  of  copper  is  of  a  blue  colour,  soraetimea 
bluish  green,  and  is  generally  translucent.  It  has  a- 
nauseous,  bitter,  metallic  taste ;  and  is  found  massive,, 
stalactitical  or  pulverulent,  in  certain  copper  mines,  but 
it  is  not  a  common  substance.  It  has  taen  met  with  in 
the  Parys  mine  in  Anglesea  :  and  in  various  countries^ 
in  crystals  of  eleven  varieties  of  form,  of  which  the  pri- 
mitive is  considered  to  be  an  oblique-angled  parallelepi- 
ped. It  consists  of  copper  mineralized  by  the  sulphuric 
acid. 

MUIUATE  OF  COPPER* 

This  rare  mineral  is  of  various  shades  of  green,  and  is 
rnet  with  in  extremely  minute  octohedral  crystals,  either 
loose,  in  the  form  of  a  green  sand,  in  Peru,  or  investing; 

R.2. 


198  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

a  dark  ochreous  quartz,  at  Remolinos  in  Chili.  The 
crystals  in  my  possession  exhibit  13  varieties  of  form  ; 
the  primitive,  which  is  a  cuneiform  octohedron,  and  se- 
ven of  the  most  simple  varieties,  were  discovered  among 
the  green  sand  of  Peru  :  the  remainder  are  from  Chili. 
The  latter  consists  of  73  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  copper, 
10.1  of  muriatic  acid,  and  16.9  of  water. 

PHOSPHATE  OF  COPPER. 

Phosphate  of  copper  is  externally  of  a  greyish  black, 
internally  between  emerald  and  verdigris  green  ;  it  oc- 
curs in  small  rhomboids  with  curvilinear  faces;  also 
massive,  or  disseminated  in  an  opake  quartz.  It  is  a  rare 
mineral,  having  only  been  found  at  Rheimbreidbach 
near  Cologne,  and  at  Finneberg,  and  at  Nassau-risingen. 
It  is  sometimes  mingled  with  arseniated  copper,  and 
accompanied  by  carbonate  of  lead  :  it  consists  of  about 
68  parts  of  oxide  of  copper,  and  31  of  phosphoric  acid, 

ARSENIATE  OF  COPPER. 

Of  this  mineral  there  are  several  varieties. 

It  occurs  in  very  fiat  octahedral  crystals,  which  are  of  a 
grass  green,  deep  blue,  or  bluish  white  colour  ;  and  are 
sometimes  slightly  transparent,  with  a  vitreous  lustre  : 
this  variety  consists  of  49  oxide  of  copper,  14  arsenic 
acid,  and  35  water. 

Another  variety  occurs  in  six-sided  tabular  crystals, 
which  are  transparent,  and  of  an  emerald  green  colour, 
or  occasionally,  though  rarely,  white  and  opake.  The 
sides  of  the  crystals  alternately  incline  different  ways,  and 
are  generally  striated  :  but  I  possess  some  crystals  much 
thicker  than  they  are  commonly  found,  of  which  the  six 
sides  are  not  striated  but  very  brilliant.  All  the  tabular 
crystals  of  this  variety,  ought,  as  I  conceive,  to  be  con- 
sidered as  sections  of  an  octohedron ;  in  this  opinion  I 
am  the  more  confirmed,  because  I  also  possess  some 
crystals  on  which  the  solid  angles  of  the  octohedron  are 
replaced  by  planes ;  others  on  which  the  edges  are  re- 
placed ;  and  again  others,  on  which  the  planes  of  both 


TO  MINERALOGY.  199 

these  modifications  are  combined  :  none  of  these  crystals 
have  heretofore  been  described. 

Another  variety,  by  some  called  the  triedral  arseniatc, 
is  of  a  very  beautiful  bluish  green,  or  deep  verdigris  co- 
lour, and  transparent ;  but  as  their  surface  is  often  de- 
composed and  black,  the  crystals  are  then  opake  ;  their 
form  is  an  octohedron,  which  is  generally  elongated, 
and  their  summits  are  sometimes  deeply  replaced,  giv- 
ing them  the  appearance  of  six-sided  prisms  with  diedral 
summits ;  in  others,  two  of  the  four  lateral  edges  are 
also  deeply  replaced,  the  crystals  then  assume  the  ap- 
pearance of  four-sided  prisms  with  diedral  summits, 
The  crystals  of  this  variety  also  assume  the  form  of  the 
tetrahedron,  and  of  a  very  acute  rhomboid,  sometimes 
perfect,  sometimes  passing  into  the  octohedron;  they 
have  been  said  to  occur  also  in  the  rare  form  of  the  trie- 
dral prism,  but  as  the  acute  rhomboids  are  often  placed 
on  the  gangue  on  one  of  their  extremities,  having  the 
other,  which  if  perfect  would  appear  as  an  acute  apex, 
deeply  replaced  by  a  regular  triangular  plane,  I  conceive 
this  appearance  has  given  rise  to  the  opinion  that  the 
crystals  assume  the  form  of  triedral  prism. 

The  preceding  varieties  differ  in  their  respective  pro- 
portions of  oxide  of  copper,  arsenic  acid,  and  water, 
from  the  first  variety  :  in  the  succeeding  variety  there  is 
no  water. 

This  variety  occurs  in  slightly  acute  octahedrons, 
which  are  usually  of  a  bottle  green  colour ;  sometimes 
brown,  or  nearly  black,  and  somewhat  transparent. 
These  crystals  are  mostly  elongated  ;  in  some  of  them, 
the  summits  of  the  octohedron  are  replaced,  as  well  as 
two  of  the  four  lateral  edges ;  and  as  these  crystals  are 
generally  long,  they  assume  the  appearance  of  four,  six,  or 
eight-sided  prisms,  having  diedral  summits,  whence  this 
variety  has  been  termed  the  prismatic  arseniate.  It 
sometimes  exhibits  capillary  crystals  of  indeterminate 
forms ;  and  others  which  are  regular  for  some  length, 
but  fibrous  at  the  extremity. 

The  two  following  varieties  agree  in  their  respective 
proportions  of  oxide  of  copper,  arsenic  acid,  and  water, 
but  differ  from  the  two  first  varieties. 

One  of  them,  which  is  of  various  shades  of  green, 


200  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

brown,  yellow,  and  white,  is  of  a  fine  diverging  fibrous 
structure,  and  a  silky  lustre  ;  it  is  called  the  Hcematitic 
arseniate  of  copper. 

The  other  occurs  in  extremely  minute,  flexible  fibres, 
occasionally  so  small  as  to  have  the  appearance  of  dust ; 
they  are  of  various  shades  of  blue,  green,  brown,  yellow, 
and  white  ;  and  possess  a  silky  lustre.  It  is  called  the 
Jlmianthifonn  arseniate. 

Martial  Arseniate  of  Copper,  which,  until  lately,  has 
been  termed  Cupreous  Jlrwniate  of  Iron,  is  of  a  pale 
bluish  green  colour,  and  occurs  in  small  four,  six,  or 
eight-sided  prisms,  with  tetrahedral  summits,  generally 
grouped  in  small  globular  radiated  masses,  they  are 
transparent,  and  have  a  shining  vitreous  lustre. 

All  the  above  varieties  of  the  arseniate  of  copper  were 
found  in  the  same  veins  which  produced  the  red  oxide 
of  copper,  in  the  mines  called  Huel  Gorland  and  Huel 
Unity,  which  adjoin  each  other  in  Cornwall ;  their 
veins  pass  through  both  granite  and  argillaceous  schis- 
tus. 


GOLD. 

The  specific  gravity  of  Gold,  when  pure  and  beaten, 
is  about  19 ;  it  is  very  soft,  and  perfectly  ductile  and 
flexible.  So  great  is  its  tenacity,  that  a  piece  one-tenth 
of  an  inch  in  diameter,  will  hold  five  hundred  pounds 
without  breaking  ;  and  it  is  computed  that  a  single  grain 
of  gold  will  cover  the  space  of  fifty-six  square  inches, 
when  beaten  out  to  its  greatest  extent. 

Gold  is  always  found  in  the  metallic  form,  whence  by 
the  mineralogists  it  is  said  to  occur  in  the  native  or  pure 
slate  5  but  it  is  generally  alkyed  by  small  portions  of 
other  metals,  as  silver,  copper,  &c. 

The  uses  of  gold  are  well  known.  Alloyed  by  cop- 
per, it  is  employed  for  ornamental  purposes,  coin  and 
plate. 

In  English  coin  it  was  alloyed  by  two  parts  of  copper, 
to  twenty-two  of  gold.  The  alloy  of  gold  used  in  plate 


TO   MINERALOGY.  201 

was  formerly  the  same  as  the  coin  :  it  is  now  18  carats, 
or  i-fths  gold.  The  purple  colour  used  in  porcelain 
painting  is  obtained  from  a  preparation  of  gold. 


NATIVE 

'-     .-  -       :•    ". 

Native  Gold  is  yellow,  orange  yellow,  or  greyish  yel- 
low, with  a  shining  metallic  lustre  ;  it  occurs  crystallized, 
capillary,  ramified,  and  in  masses  of  various  sizes,  from 
the  weight  of  very  minute  portions  to  that  of  several 
pounds  ;  it  is  soft,  inelastic,  flexible,  and  malleable.  It 
is  rarely  perfectly  pure,  but  mostly  contains  small  por- 

*  The  grand  fpecimen  of  Native  Gold,  which  was  examined  by  me  in 
1800,  at  New-  York,  on  its  way  from  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  to  the  King 
of  Spain  was  connected  with  quartz.  Both  the  metal  and  the  rock  were 
amorphous,  and  exhibited  no  fign  of  cryftallization.  It  feemed  to  be  a  loofe 
nodule,  rounded  by  rolling  ;  and  weighed  forty-fix  ounces.  The  colour 
of  the  gold  was  a  fine  yellow,  with  a  hue  in  one  part  of  whitifh,  and  in 
the  other  of  greenifh.  The  quartz  was  white,  with  a  dufky  tinge.  (Metl* 
Refos.  Vol.  4,  p.  201  —  202.) 

Meadow  Creek,  a  branch  of  Rocky  River,  a  principal  flream  of  the  Pe- 
dee,  in  Cabarrus  county,  North  Carolina,  is  more  remarkable  than  any  re- 
gion of  the  Fredonian  States,  for  native  gold.  About  the  year  1803, 
grains  and  lumps  to  the  amount  of  fifteen  thoufand  dollars  were  gathered. 
The  firft  piece  was  found  by  a  boy,  who  was  exercifing  himfelf  in  fhooting 
fmall  fiflies  with  a  bow  and  arrows.  The  maffcs  were  of  different  weight 
from  gold-duft  to  the  unparalelled  bulk  of  a  lump  of  nearly  twenty  -eight 
pounds.  The  heavieft  of  thefe  natural  fpecimens,  loft  only  15  per  cent,  on 
being  melted  and  refined.  The  fmaller  and  lighter  of  them  lofe  only 
from  a  to  5  per  cent.  The  grains  of  gold  are  found  fcattered  among  the 
fand. 

The  rocks  are  of  the  primitive  formation,  and  the  gold  is  difleminated 
among  their  ruins. 

The  fpecimen  which  I  received  from  Governor  Alexander,  is  of  a  rich 
and  beautiful  yellow,  and  is  blended  with  particle*  of  white  quartz.  (MeJ. 
Repos.  Vol.  7,  p.  307.)  The  director  of  the  mint  reported,  that  during 
1804,  about  eleven  thoufand  dollars  of  the  golden  money  coined  there, 
was  from  the  gold  of  North  Carolina. 

For  a  year  or  more  after  the  firft  difcovery,  pieces  were  occafionally 
found  of  four  and  five  pounds  weight,  and  a  great  number  of  the  fize  of 
fmall  grains  ;  and  the  laft  I  heard  of  this  gold-finding  bufinefs  was,  that 
quickfilver  had  been  employed  by  the  workers,  for  feparating  the  minute 
particles  of  gold  from  the  fand.  (Ibid.  Vol.  8,/>.  439  —  440.) 

The  fands  of  Long  creek,  about  eighteen  miles  from  Meadow  creek, 
have  alfo  afforded  gold  duft.  Whenever  the  maize  and  cotton  are  weed- 
ed, and  the  bufinefs  of  the  plantation  is  in  advance,  the  proprietors  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  taking  their  labourers  to  the  ftream,  and  of  wafhing 
and  fearching  for  gold.  By  conducting  the  undertaking  in  this  manner, 
it  was  found,  that  it  not  only  paid  wages,  but  afforded  a  profit.  Expe- 
rience has  proved  that  a  bufhel  of  the  fand,  would  often  afford  gold  to 


*  ;ic 


202  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

tions  of  other  metals;  as  of  silver,  copper,  &c.  It  oc- 
curs crystallized  in  the  form  of  the  cube  and  octohedron, 
but  as  its  crystals  do  not  admit  of  regular  fracture,  their 
structure  is  not  sufficiently  known  to  enable  mineralo- 
gists to  decide  which  of  those  two  solids  is  the  form  oi  its 
primitive  crystal.  I  possess  crystals  exhibiting  21  varie- 
ties of  form,  besides  12  others  in  that  compound  species 
of  crystallization,  expressed  by  the  term  macle ;  each 
consisting  of  equal  portions  of  the  octohedron  united 
together. 

Gold  is  sometimes  combined  in  other  metalliferous 
minerals,  in  various  proportions,  but  is  said  always  to  be 
in  the  metallic  state.  An  argentiferous  variety  has  yield- 
ed by  analysis,  36  per  cent,  of  silver;  and  an  auriferous 
variety  of  silver  (mentioned  under  that  head)  28  per 
cent,  of  gold.  It  is  combined  with  other  metals  in  the 
ores  of  tellurium,  and  not  unfrequently  forms  an  ingre- 
dient in  iron  pyrites,  which  thence  is  termed  auriferous. 
It  is  also  said  to  have  been  occasionally  found  in  certain 
sulpburets  of  iron,  zinc,  lead,  and  mercury,  and  in  some 
varieties  of  copper  and  of  arsenical  pyrites. 

In  veins,  gold  is  found  only  in  primitive  mountains^ 
but  not  in  those  of  the  most  ancient  formation ;  these 
veins  principally  contain  quartz,  felspar,  carbonate  of 
lime,  arid  sulphate  of  barytes  ;  but  the  gold  is  sometimes 
accompanied  by  sulphuret  of  iron,  of  silver,  and  of  lead, 
and  occasionally  red  silver,  manganese,  grey  cobalt, 
and  nickle. 

Gold  is  found  in  veins ;  also  in  rivers,  and  alluvial 
matter,  in  several  countries  of  Europe.  From  Spain 
the  Phrenicians  and  Romans  are  supposed  to  have  drawn 
their  principal  riches ;  it  is  also  found  in  Germany  and 

the  value  of  fifty  cents.  A  lump  weighing  twenty-feven  pennyweights, 
was  found  in  July,  1808.  Small  pieces  of  four,  fix,  and  even  fourteen 
pennyweights,  have  been  alfo  found. 

The  common  way  of  working  was,  firft,  to  pick  out  all  the  vifible 
grains  from  the  auriferous  fand,  and  to  throw  the  refidue  into  a  heap ;  and 
afterwards,  to  feparate  the  more  minute  particles  by  amalgamation  with 
quickfilver.  It  has  been  fuppofed  that  the  alluvial  flratum  in  which  th3 
gold  lies,  is  very  extenfive.  A  mafs  weighing  a  pound  was  found  in  An- 
fon  county.  (Med.  Repot.  Vol.  ia,/>.  192—193.) 

A  few  years  ago,  a  publication  was  made,  that  gold  had  been  found  in 
'he  fand  of  James  river,  or  one  of  its  ilreams,  at  Lynchburgh  iu  Virginia* 


TO    MINERALOGY.  203 

Sweden  ;  and  very  sparingly  in  France  and  Italy.  The 
principal  European  mines  are  those  of  Cremnitz  and 
Chemnitz,  in  Hungary;  which,  together  with  some 
others  of  inferior  note,  annually  produce,  by  estimate, 
about  2000  pounds  weight.  Small  quantities  are  also 
found  in  alluvial  deposits  in  Switzerland,  and  in  Ireland  ; 
the  latter  of  which  contains  about  fifteen  per  cent,  of  sil- 
ver. It  is  found  occasionally  in  small  grains  intermixed 
with  tin  in  some  of  the  stream-works  of  Cornwall. 

In  Asia  ;  gold  is  found  in  Siberia  in  veins,  and  in  ma- 
ny of  the  Asiatic  islands  in  sands. 

From  the  rivers  and  alluvial  deposits  of  Africa,  large 
quantities  were  furnished  to  the  ancients. 

By  far  the  greater  part  of  the  gold  now  brought  into 
use,  is  obtained  from  the  rivers  of  South  America  ;  in 
various  parts  of  which  continent,  it  is  also  found  in  veins, 
and  in  considerable  abundance.  In  the  Vice  Royalty 
of  La  Plata  alone  there  are  30  gold  mines  or  workings. 
It  is  calculated  that  the  annual  produce  of  America  is 
about  30,000  pounds  weight. 

Helms  says,  that  when  a  projecting  part  of  one  of  the 
highest  mountains  in  Paraguay  fell  down,  about  thirty 
years  ago,  pieces  of  gold,  weighing  from  two  to  fifty 
pounds  each,  were  found  in  it. 


PLATINA.* 

The  specific  gravity  of  Platina  when  pure,  is  about 
23 ;  its  colour  is  between  tin-white  and  iron  grey.  Its 

*  Three  hundred  pounds  of  Platina,  were  offered  to  me  for  examination, 
at  New- York,  in  1802.  It  had  been  brought  from  Chaco,  in  Terra  Fir- 
ma,  by  the  way  of  Jamaica.  It  confifted  principally  of  fmall  grain.", 
fmooth  to  the  touch,  fomewhat  like  flax- feed,  and  rather  flat  than  round. 
The  fize  of  the  grains  was  confiderably  coarfer  than  the  large  rafpings  ot 
iron,  and  they  were  more  varied  and  irregular  in  their  forms.  Some 
pieces  were,  however,  much  larger  ;  and  I  now  pofiefs  one  as  large  as  a 
middling  bean.  The  colour  was  fomewhat  between  filver  and  iron  j 
and  the  native  metal  as  it  lay  expofed  to  the  eye,  brought  to  mind  a  re- 
femblance,  though  by  no  means  an  exa&  one,  to  filings  of  filver  and  pow- 


204  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

malleability  is  so  considerable  that  it  may  be  beaten  into 
leaves  as  thin  as  tin  foil,  and  its  ductility  so  great,  that 
Dr.  Wollaston  has  succeeded  in  drawing  it  into  a  wire 
TsfnFlft  Part  °f  an  *nc*J  *n  diameter,  which  will  support 
about  one  grain  and  one  third  of  a  grain  without  break- 
ing. It  possesses  considerable  elasticity,  and  in  hard- 
ness is  not  much  inferior  to  iron  ;  but  is  very  difficult  of 
fusion.  It  is  only  found  in  the  native  state. 

Pure  PJatina  in  thin  plates  is  very  ductile  and  flexible. 
Of  late  it  has  been  formed  into  mirrors  for  reflecting 
telescopes,  spoons,  crucibles,  and  some  vessels  of  con- 
siderable dimension  for  the  use  of  the  chemist  in  parti- 
cular processes. 


NATIVE   PLATINA. 


Native  Platina,  is  between  steel  grey  and  silver- white 
colour,  and  is  nearly  as  hard  as  iron,  and  malleable,  but 
is  infusible.  It  has  hitherto  only  been  found  in  small 
flattened  grains  rarely  exceeding  the  size  of  a  pea ;  the 
largest  that  has  been  seen  is  of  the  size  of  a  pigeon's 
egg,  and  was  presented  by  Humboldt  to  the  King  of 
Prussia.  Native  Platina  is  much  lighter  than  pure  pla- 


der  of  tin.  The  grains  were  lefs  angular  and  fhining  than  the  former, 
and  not  fo  dark  and  globular  as  the  latter.  A  portion  of  iron,  feemed  to 
be  mixed  with  the  platina  ;  for,  on  applying  the  magnet,  numerous 
particles  of  a  dufky  hue,  adhered  to  it.  It  appeared  alfo,  that  many 
pieces  of  platina,  known  to  be  fuch  by  their  whitifh  complexion,  were  at- 
tracted by  the  load-ftone.  Pieces  of  lead-ore  in  the  form  of  galena,  and 
of  iron  in  the  form  of  pyrites,  were  mixed  with  the  platina,  in  the  bags. 
There  was  alfo  a  quantity  of  earth  and  fand.  The  grains  of  platina  were 
readily  capable  of  extenfion  between  the  anvil  and  hammer,  and  fhowed 
neither  rurc  nor  tarnifli.  M  Carendeffez  determined  by  experiment,  that 
two  hundred  and  eighty- eight  grains  of  this  platina,  confifted  of  the  fol- 
lowing ingredients,  to  wit : 

Carbune  of  iron,  56 

Silicious  fand,  ia 

Magnetical  iron,  40 

Gold  grains  or  duft,  i 

Platina,  179 

288  grains. 

Which  is  confiderably  more  than  a  third  of  foreign  ingredients.  Platina  is 
reckoned  to  be  about  ten  times  as  fcarce  as  gold.  (Med.  Ref.  Vol.  6,  p. 
213— 


TO  MINERALOGY.  205 

tina :  it  has  been  found  in  St.  Domingo,  Brazil,  and 
Peru. 

In  St.  Domingo  it  is  met  with  in  the  eastern  part  of 
that  island,  in  the  sands  of  a  river  called  Jaki,  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountains  of  Sibao.  The  grains  are  some- 
what larger  than  those  of  Peru,  and  are  accompanied  by 
magnetic  iron  ore,  gold,  £c.  It  has  not  been  ana- 
lyzed. 

In  Brazil  it  is  found  in  the  gold  mines  of  that  country 
in  small  grains  of  a  spongy  texture,  free  from  tarnish, 
and  with  very  little  lustre,  mixed  with  grains  of  gold, 
and  of  palladium  ;  perhaps  also  with  the  natural  alloy 
of  iridium  and  osmium.  It  does  not  contain  any  of  the 
magnetic  iron  sand,  or  of  the  minute  hyacinths,  which 
always  accompany  the  Peruvian  ore.  It  consists  of  pla- 
tina  alloyed  by  very  minute  portions  of  gold  and  of  pal~ 
ladium. 

In  Peru,  it  is  only  met  with  in  the  Rio  del  Pinto,  in 
the  districts  of  Citara  and  Novita  in  the  province  of 
Choco,  and  near  Carthagena  in  New  Grenada.  It  is 
found  in  a  magnetic  iron  sand,  in  which  are  mixed  grain? 
of  gold,  minute  hyacinths,  and  fossil  wood  :  and  it  is 
said  that  the  whole  is  covered  by  rounded  pieces  of  ba- 
salt enclosing  olivine  and  pyroxene.  The  grains  of 
platina  are  small,  flattened,  and  have  occasional  inden- 
tations, the  surfaces  of  which  are  generally  tarnished; 
but  the  other  parts  have  a  shining  metallic  lustre.  It 
consists  of  platina  alloyed  with  small  proportions  of 
iron,  copper,  lead,  palladium,  iridium,  rhodium,  and 
osmium. 

The  grains  of  Crude  Platina  analyzed  by  Descotils 
were  accompanied  by  grains  of  menachanite  and  of  chro- 
mate  of  iron. 


-t.it 


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20G         ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 


RHODIUM. 

This  metal  has  hitherto  been  found  only  alloying  the 
native  platina  of  Peru.  When  pure,  Rhodium  has  a 
bright  metallic  surface,  but  is  not  malleable  ;  its  specific 
gravity  is  about  11. 


IRIDIUM.    OSMIUM. 

The  former  of  these  two  metals,  when  pure,  is  white, 
and  perfectly  infusible  ;  the  latter  is  of  a  dark  grey  or 
blue  colour.  They  occur,  alloying  native  platina  in 
very  small  proportion ;  and  likewise  together,  forming 
a  natural  alloy  of  the  two  metals. 

ALLOY  OF  IBID1UM  AND  OSMIUM. 

This  natural  alloy  is  found  accompanying  native  pla- 
tina, in  the  form  of  very  small,  irregular,  and  flattened 
grains,  which  have  a  shining  metallic  lustre,  but  are  of 
a  somewhat  paler  colour  than  native  platina,  and  are 
harder  and  heavier;  their  specific  gravity  being  19.5  : 
they  possess  a  lamellar  structure,  and  are  brittle. 


"4£j  {> '  '*''•* 

PALLADIUM.* 

The  specific  gravity  of  Palladium,  when  pure,  is  about 
11.     In  colour,  it  greatly  resembles  platina ;   in  thin  la- 

*  Palladium  has  been  difcovered  in  an  alloy  with  Brazilian  gold,  by  Jo- 
feph  Cloud,  Efcj.  of  the  U.  S.  mint.      He  is  fatisfied  that  Palladium  has  a 


TO  MINERALOGY.  207 

niinse  it  is  very  flexible,  but  not  very  elastic  ;  it  is  some- 
what harder  than  bar-iron,  and  is  very  malleable. 

It  occurs,  together  with  some  other  metals,  alloying,  in 
small  proportion,  the  native  platina  of  Brazil  :  and  also 
in  the  native  state. 

NATIVE  PALLADIUM. 

Native  Palladium  occurs  in  grains  apparently  compo- 
sed of  diverging  fibres  ;  in  other  respects  these  grains 
differ  little  in  external  character  from  those  of  the  native 
platina,  amongst  which  they  are  found.  Native  palla- 
dium is  infusible;  its  specific  gravity  is  11.8;  and  it 
consists  of  palladium,  alloyed  by  minute  portions  of  pla- 
tina and  iridium. 


TELLURIUM. 

Tellurium,  when  pure,  is  about  the  colour  of  tin  ;  it  is 
brittle,  and  nearly  as  fusible  as  lead  ;  its  specific  gravity 
is  little  more  than  6. 

It  is  an  extremely  rare  metal,  and  is  found  only  in 
the  metallic  state  ;  but  is  always  alloyed,  though  in  very 
different  proportions,  by  other  metals.  Its  ores  are  few 
and  rare. 

NATIVE   TELLURIUM. 

Native  tellurium  is  of  a  tin  white  colour,  and  has  a 
metallic  lustre :  it  occurs  in  small  grains,  which  are  brit- 
tle, and  yield  to  the  knife.  It  very  much  resembles 
grey  antimony.  It  is  found  in  the  veins  of  a  transition 
mountain  of  compact  carbonate  of  lime,  at  Fazebay  in 

real  exigence  ;  that  it  is  one  of  the  pure,  or  unoxydable  metals  ;  and  in 
this  refpect,  on  a  par  with  gold,  filver,  and  platina.  He  found  it  in  a  na» 
tive  conbination  with  gold,  without  the  prefence  of  Platina,  or  any  other 
metal.  (Amer.  Phil.  Trans.  Vol.  6,  and  Med.  Rtpos.  Vol.  14,  />.  69—73.) 


.208       ELEMENTARY"  INTRODUCTION 

Transylvania  ;  and  also  at  Beresof  in  Siberia.  It  con- 
sists of  92.55  parts  of  tellurium,  7.2  of  iron,  and  0.25  of 
gold.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  6.  It  is  procured  for 
the  sake  of  the  gold  it  contains,  though  so  small  in  quan- 
tity. 

GRAPHIC  TELLURIUM.    AUliUM  GRAPHICUM. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  steel  grey  colour,  with  a  splen- 
dent metallic  lustre  ;  and  occurs  in  small  flat  six-sided 
prisms,  with  or  without  four-sided  summits  ;  the  crystals 
are  generally  disposed  in  rows  on  the  surface  of  quartz, 
and  are  so  arranged  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  certain 
characters  ;  whence  its  name  :  it  is  also  sometimes 
found  in  granular  masses  ;  it  yields  easily  to  the  knife, 
and  is  brittle. 

It  is  met  with  only  at  Oflenbanya  in  Transylvania, 
together  with  sulphuret  of  zinc,  pyrites,  grey  copper, 
&;c.  in  veins  which  traverse  a  porphyritic  mountain.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  5.7  ;  and  it  is  composed  of  60  parts 
of  tellurium,  30  of  gold,  and  10  of  silver. 

PLUMB1FEROUS    TELLURIUM. 

This  substance  is  either  yellow  or  black.  The  yellow 
variety  ocr.urs  in  grains  and  in  minute  flat  four-sided 
prisms,  of  a  bright  metallic  lustre  ;  it  is  somewhat  flexi- 
ble, and  soft.  It  consists  of  44.75  parts  of  tellurium, 
2G.75  of  gold,  19.5  of  lead,  8.5  of  silver,  and  0.5  of 
sulphur. 

The  Black  is  found  in  irregular  shapes,  or  in  length- 
ened and  six-sided  plates  of  a  shining  metallic  lustre.  It 
consists  of  32.2  of  tellurium,  54  of  lead,  9  of  gold,  1.3 
of  copper,  3  of  sulphur,  and  0.5  of  silver. 

This  variety,  which  is  much  heavier  than  the  former, 
is  only  found  at  Nagyag  in  Transylvania,  and  is  procured 
as  an  ore  of  gold  ;  it  is  accompanied  principally  by  the 
same  substances  as  the  former  variety. 


TO  MINERALOGY,  209 


•<•  ;,*'•*  -         ,.-,; 

*         ANTIMONY* 

Antimony  is  a  compact,  brittle,  bluish  white  metal, 
whose  specific  gravity  is  between  6  and  7  ;  it  is  found 
nearly  pure. 

The  ores  of  antimony  are  only  five  in  number  ;  all  of 
which  have  not  been  analyzed.  In  some  of  them,  it  is 
found  combined  with  oxide  of  iron,  arsenic,  silex,  sul- 
phur, and  oxygen. 

Antimony  is  found  both  in  primitive  and  secondary 
countries.  It  forms  alloys  with  other  metals,  and  is  used 
in  the  arts.  It  enters  largely  into  the  composition  of 
printing  types ;  it  is  also  used  in  medicine. 

NATIVE  ANTIMONY. 

This  substance  is  found  of  irregular  shapes;  never 
crystallized  regularly.  It  occurs  at  Sahlberg  in  Sweden 
in  calcareous  spar ;  at  Allemont  in  Dauphine,  in  white 
quartz  ;  at  Andreasburg  in  the  Hartz,  in  quartz  and  spa- 
those  iron  ore. 

The  form  of  its  primitive  crystal  in  the  regular  octo- 
hedron. 

It  consists  of  98  parts  of  antimony,  the  rest  being  sil- 
ver and  iron  ;  but  some  specimens,  on  being  exposed  to 
heat,  give  out  a  garlicky  odour,  indicating  the  presence 
of  arsenic. 

*  This  metal  does  not  appear  to  exift  in  great  quantity  in  the  Fredifli 
dominions.  A  fpecimen  which  I  once  announced,  on  the  authority  of 
Dr.  D.  B.  Warden,  as  having  been  found  at  Saugherties  in  Ulfter  county, 
N.  Y.  turned  out  to  be  European  ;  it  having  got  by  miftake,  among  fome 
American  minerals,  at  Paris. 

Another  fpecimen  fent  me  from  Maine,  could  certainly  not  have  been 
native  ;  for  it  bore  the  plaineft  marks  of  fufion,  and  was  undoubtedly  an 
imported  fulphuret  of  antimony.  Still,  it  is  affirmed  upon  the  moft  respec- 
table authority,  that  Harwinton  in  Connecticut,  affords  broad  plated  na- 
tive antimony,  aflbciated  with  fulphuretted  antimony,  (Silliman)  ;  and 
that  Maine,  Maflachufetts,  Virginia  and  Louifiana,  have  each  fumiflie<i 
famples.  (  Cleaveland.) 

S  2 


210  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 


GREY  ANTIMONY.       SULPHURET  OF  ANTIMONY, 

Grey  antimony  is  of  a  light  lead  grey  colour  externally, 
but  presents,  when  fractured,  a  brilliant  metallic  lustre  ; 
it  is  occasionally  lamellar,  fibrous,  and  is  often  crystal- 
lized :  it  is  extremely  brittle,  and  so  fusible,  that  it  rea- 
dily mells  in  the  flame  of  a  candle  :  when  in  minute  ca- 
pillary crystals,  it  is  termed  plumose  antimony. 

The  form  of  its  primitive  crystal  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. It  occurs  in  oblique  four-sided  prisms,  termina- 
ted by  four-sided  pyramids  ;  the  crystals  in  my  posses- 
sion exhibit  14  varieties  of  form.  It  consists  of  75  parts 
of  antimony,  and  25  of  sulphur. 

It  is  found  in  Saxony,  Hungary,  and  France  ;  also  in 
Cornwall  and  Dumfrieshire.  It  is  mostly  met  with  in 
micaceous  schistus,  or  clay  porphyry,  mixed  with  oxide 
of  iron  ;  and  is  accompanied  by  quartz  and  spathose  iron 
ore  ;  in  Hungary  by  sulphate  of  barytes,  sometimes  cal- 
careous spar,  fluor  spar,  and  chalcedony.  It  is  remarka- 
ble that  in  Cornwall  it  is  only  met  with  in  veins  in  a  di- 
rection contrary  to  that  of  the  copper  and  tin  veins, 
which  they  pass  through. 

RED  ANTIMONY. 

This  mineral  is  brownish,  bluish,  or  reddish  external- 
ly ;  and  is  principally  found  in  minute  diverging  crystals, 
which  are  brittle. 

It  often  accompanies  the  preceding  varieties,  and  is 
met  with  in  Hungary,  Saxony,  in  Dauphine,  but  princi- 
pally in  Tuscany.  It  consists  of  about  67.5  parts  of  anti- 
mony, 10.8  of  oxygen,  and  19.7  of  sulphur. 

WHITE  ANTIMONY.        OXIDE  OF  ANTIMONY. 

White  antimony  is  of  a  white,  yellowish  white,  or  grey 
colour ;  it  is  rarely  found  in  mass,  but  mostly  in  slender 
diverging  crystals^  which  are  very  tender,  heavy,  and 
translucent* 


TO    MINERALOGY 


It  is  a  rare  mineral  ;  at  Allemont  in  France  it  is  found 
on  native  antimony.  In  Bohemia,  on  sulphuret  of  lead, 
In  Saxony,  Hungary,  and  Spain,  it  is  met  with  investing 
sulphuret  of  antimony.  It  consists  of  86  parts  of  anti- 
mony, 8  parts  of  silex,  and  3  of  oxide  of  antimony  and 
oxide  of  iron. 


ANT1MONIAL  OCHRE. 


Antimonial  ochre  has  been  found  at  Endellion  in 
Cornwall,  in  Saxony,  and  Bohemia,  upon  some  of  the 
ores  of  antimony  ;  it  is  earthy,  of  a  yellowish  or  brown 
colour,  and  is  extremely  rare. 


LEAD. 

Lead  is  of  a  bluish  grey  colour,  and  is  malleable,  duc- 
tile, inelastic,  and  very  soft ;  it  has  never  been  found  in 
the  pure  or  native  state  :  its  specific  gravity  is  between 
11  and  12. 

The  ores  of  lead  are  numerous  ;  they  appear  under 
very  different  circumstances  and  aspects,  and  present  a 
considerable  diversity  of  combination.  Lead  is  found 
mineralized,  mostly  in  the  state  of  an  oxide,  by  sulphur 
and  by  the  carbonic,  muriatic,  phosphoric,  arsenic,  mo- 
lybdic,  and  chromic  acids,  and  by  oxygen :  it  is  also 
found  in  combination  with  the  metals  antimony,  iron, 
manganese,  and  silver,  or  their  ores ;  with  the  earths, 
silex,  alurnine,  lime,  and  magnesia,  and  with  water.  Some 
of  the  ores  of  lead,  which  are  very  numerous,  present 
combinations  of  several  of  these  substances ;  a  few  of 
them  have  a  metallic  aspect,  but  several  of  them  have 
rather  the  appearance  of  earthy  minerals,  being  in  con- 
siderable degree  transparent  or  translucent.  The  ores 
of  lead  chiefly  occur  in  secondary  countries ;  sometimes 
in  the  veins  of  primitive  mountains. 

It  would  scarcely  be  possible  to  enumerate  all  the 
valuable  purposes  to  which  lead  is  applied  in  the  arts,  in 


212  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

medicine,  and  in  the  common  wants  of  man.  Among  its 
less  obvious  uses,  lead  is  employed  to  glaze  pottery,  and 
its  oxide  enters  into  the  composition  of  glass.  Four 
parts  of  lead  and  one  of  antimony  form  printing  types,  to 
which  by  some  is  added  a  little  copper  or  brass.  With 
tin  and  bismuth  it  forms  alloys,  which  are  used  in  the 
arts. 

GALENA.       SULPHURET  OF  LEAD.* 

Galena  has  nearly  the  colour  and  lustre  of  pure  lead  : 
it  is  met  with  crystallized  in  the  form  of  the  cube,  which 
is  that  of  its  primitive  crystal,  and  in  nine  varieties  of 
form  ;  among  which  is  the  regular  octohedron.  It  oc- 
curs also  specular,  radiated,  granular,  and  compact.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  7.5  ;  and  it  consists  of  about  85.13  per 
cent,  of  lead,  13.8  of  sulphur,  and  0.5  of  oxide  of  iron; 
but  carbonated  lime  and  silex  are  found  entering  into 
combination  in  some  varieties,  in  proportions  varying 
between  29  and  38  per  cent.  Galena  is  rarely  found 
without  some  proportion  of  silver,  which  varies  from  Tf^ 
or  less,  to  tr-  The  presence  of  silver  is  said  considerably 
to  diminish  the  lustre  of  the  Galena,  and  it  is  also  said 
that  it  is  much  more  frequently  found  in  the  octohedral, 
than  in  the  cubical  varieties. 

*  The  Sulphuret  of  Lead  is  found  in  many  parts  of  the  United  States. 
In  New- York,  in  Ulfter,  Duchefs,  Renflalacr,  and  Geneflee  counties,  fome- 
times  in  limeftone,  fometimes  in  quartz,  and  fometimes  in  Ihift.  An  in- 
fiructive  catalogue  of  localities  in  other  States,  may  be  feen  in  Profeflbr 
Cleaveland's  Elementary  Treatife,  p.  513—514. 

But  the  moft  extenfive  bodies  of  Galena,  perhaps,  on  the  globe,  cxift  in 
JLouiilana  and  the  region  to  the  northward,  on  the  eaft  fide  of  the  Miilif- 
flppi.  It  commonly  refts  upon  carbonate  of  lime,  and  is  often  accompa- 
nied by  fulphate  of  barytes.  It  frequently  exifts  in  nodules  and  detached 
lumps.  When  Mr.  Mofes  Auftin  wrote  his  report  in  1804,  there  were 
ten  principal  mines  or  openings  :  Now,  it  i»  underftood,  there  are  many 
more.  They  are  chiefly  in  the  region  fituated  weft  of  St.  Genevieve  and 
St.  Louis.  Above  two  hundred  miles  up  the  river  Merrimack,  valuable 
lead  mines  have  been  difcovered*  Veins  of  the  galena  are  found  beyond 
the  River  aux  Moiens.  After  various  interruptions,  the  Teams  of  metallic 
matter  appear  again  above  the  falls  of  St.  Anthony.  Mafles  of  it  are  plen- 
tiful, further  to  the  north  than  the  junction  of  the  Ouifconfin  with  the 
Mifliflippi.  It  is  fo  abundant  that  the  Tatar  natives  of  the  region  around 
the  Prairie  des  Chiens  melt  the  lead,  and  bring  it  to  the  trading  houfes  as 
an  article  of  exchange.  (Mtd.  Repot.  Vol.  o,  />.  87—88,  and  Pol.  i?y 


TO  MINERALOGY.  213 

The  specular  variety  is  sometimes  called  Looking 
Glass  Lead  ore,  on  account  of  its  great  brilliancy,  and  in 
Derbyshire,  Slikenside ;  the  radiated  variety  is  said  always 
to  contain  a  portion  of  antimony.  The  granular  variety 
is  sometimes  nearly  as  fine-grained  as  steel. 

Gelena  is  almost  the  only  ore  of  the  numerous  ores 
of  lead,  which  is  found  in  sufficient  quantity  to  be 
wrought  for  the  lead  it  contains.  This  substance  oc- 
curs under  great  diversity  of  circumstance  ;  which  owing 
to  the  importance  of  the  mineral,  deserves  a  slight  no- 
tice. 

In  France,  in  the  mine  of  Pompean,  it  is  accompa- 
nied by  fossil  wood  ;  near  Medrin,  it  traverses  nearly 
perpendicular  beds  of  limestone ;  near  Vienna  it  occurs 
in  schistus  ;  in  Languedoc  and  the  Vosges,  in  decom- 
posed granite  ;  and  in  some  places,  in  large  veins,  pas- 
sing through  primitive  mountains. 

At  Bieyberg  in  Cafinthia,  it  occurs  in  beds,  alterna- 
ting with  beds  of  compact  carbonate  of  lime  ;  and  in 
grains  disseminated  through  sandstone,  and  accompa- 
nied by  oxide  of  copper,  and  brown  iron  ore. 

In  Silesia  it  occurs  in  veins,  and  in  rounded  masses 
in  horizontal  beds  of  ferruginous  marl,  resting  upon 
thicker  beds  of  compact  carbonate  of  lime,  enclosing  fos- 
sil shells,  and  asphaltum. 

In  Spain  the  most  important  mines  of  sulphuret  of 
lead  are  situated  in  granite  hills,  in  the  province  of  Jaen, 
and  near  the  city  of  Canjagar. 

In  England,  the  most  important  mines  are  those  of 
Derbyshire,  which  are  principally  situated  in  compact 
limestone,  enclosing  shells :  the  veins  of  lead  ore  are 
sometimes  nearly  vertical,  occasionally  horizontal,  and 
they  sometimes  open  into  large  caverns.  In  these  moun- 
tains is  found  the  amygdaloid  or  toad  stone,  which  in- 
terrupts the  vertical  veins,  but  not  the  horizontal  veins, 
or  rather  beds.  The  lead  ore  is  accompanied  by  carbo- 
nated lime,  sulphate  of  barytes,  (of  the  variety  called 
cauk)and  fluate  of  lime  ;  occasionally  by  petroleum  and 
elastic  bitumen.  It  is  confidently  asserted  that  when  the 
variety  of  sulphuret  of  lead  called  Siikenside,  is  met 
with,  and  by  any  means  disturbed,  a  terrible  explosion 
ensues,  by  which  considerable  masses  are  detached 


214         ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

from  the  vein  :  this  singular  circumstance  has  not  been 
explained. 

This  substance  is  found  in  almost  every  mineral  dis- 
trict in  the  known  world,  and  perhaps,  next  to  certain 
ores  of  iron,  is  the  most  common  of  metalliferous  ores  : 
but  it  is  said  not  to  have  been  met  with  in  any  consider- 
able quantity  in  the  Altaic  or  Uralian  chains  of  moun- 
tains in  the  northern  parts  of  Asia ;  nor  is  it  common  in 
Peru. 

BLUE    LEAD    ORE. 

Blue  Lead  Ore  has  only  been  found  as  Zschoppau  in 
Saxony,  in  veins,  accompanied  by  other  ores  of  lead, 
and  with  quartz,  tluor  spar,  &tc  ;  it  occurs  massive,  and 
crystallized  in  small  six-sided  prisms,  and  is  of  a  colour 
between  lead  grey  and  indigo  blue,  with  a  slight  metal- 
lic lustre. 

TRIPLE    SULPHURET    OF    LEAD. 

This  mineral  is  generally  of  a  dark  lead  grey  colour, 
and  shining  metallic  lustre  ;  it  is  mostly  crystallized  in 
the  form  of  the  cube  and  its  varieties ;  it  yields  easily 
to  the  knife,  and  is  very  brittle.  It  consists  of  50  parts 
ofsulpburet  of  lead,  30  of  sulphuret  of  antimony,  and 
20  of  sulphuret  of  copper.  It  has  hitherto  only  been 
found  *n  Huel  Boys  mine  in  Cornwall,  in  a  north  and 
south  vein  passing  through  argillaceous  schistus,  and  ac- 
companied by  sulphuret  of  zinc  ;  but  some  minerals 
very  nearly  approximating  to  this  substance  in  composi- 
tion have  been  met  with  in  other  countries. 

NATIVE    MINIUM. 

Native  Minium  is  believed  to  be  a  pure  oxide  of  lead, 
which  does  not  appear  to  have  been  ascertained  by 
analysis.  Its  ordinary  colour  is  scarlet,  but  it  is  also 
met  with  of  various  shades  of  grey,  yellow,  and  brown  ; 
it  occurs  of  indeterminate  shapes,  and  pulverulent;  the 
latter  variety  is  found  in  small  beds,  alternating  with 
clay  and  sulphuret  of  lead.  It  occurs  in  several  places 


TO   MINERALOGY.  21 6 

in  Saxony,  Germany,  and  France;  also  at  Grassing- 
ton  Moor,  in  Craven  ;  and  at  Grasshill  Chapel  in  York- 
shire. 

CARBONATE  OP  LEAD.* 

This  beautiful  mineral  is  white,  or  of  various  shades 
of  grey  and  brown,  and  of  a  resinous  lustre.  It  occurs 
crystallized,  acicular,  and  fibrous.  The  crystals  are 
translucent  or  transparent ;  the  acicular  and  fibrous  most- 
ly opake  :  it  yields  easily  to  the  knife,  is  brittle,  and 
possesses  double  refraction  in  a  high  degree.  The  pri- 
mitive form  is  a  rectangular  octohedron  ;  its  crystals  are 
found  in  12  varieties  of  form.  The  specific  gravity  of 
Carbonate  of  Lead  is  6.7 ;  and  it  consists  of  77  per 
cent,  of  lead,  5  of  oxygen,  16  of  carbonic  acid,  and 
about  2  of  water.  The  Carbonate  of  lead  is  not  very 
abundant ;  it  is  not  found  in  large  masses,  and  is  always 
accompanied  by  other  ores  of  lead.  It  is  met  with  in 
Languedoc  and  Brittany,  in  France  ;  in  the  Hartz ;  in 
the  lead  hills  in  Scotland  ;  at  Alston  Moor  in  Cumber- 
land ;  in  Durham  ;  and  occasionally  in  Cornwall,  but 
principally  of  the  acicular  variety. 

Sometimes  this  substance  is  tinged  of  a  green  colour 
on  the  surface,  by  the  carbonate  of  copper  ;  occasional- 
ly it  is  of  a  metallic  lead  grey,  exhibiting  the  partial 
conversion  of  the  carbonate  into  sulphuret  of  lead  :  and 
at  Grassfield  mine  near  Nent-Head  in  Durham,  carbo- 
nate of  Lead  is  found  abundantly  of  an  earthy  texture, 
and  of  a  grey  colour;  but  is  tinged  sometimes  greenish, 
yellowish,  or  reddish  :  it  occurs  massive,  or  granular, 
and  is  very  heavy. 

*  This  beautiful  white  ore  of  lead  is  found  near  Abingdon  in  Virginia. 
It  occurs  in  lumps  or  mafles  of  flender,  and  fometimes  radiating  cryftals. 
In  the  box  of  cryftals  which  I  received  from  the  proprietor,  Mr.  Sheffey, 
were  contained,  befides  the  white  ore,  mafles  of  galena,  and  amorphous 
1  umps  of  a  yellowifh  colour,  like  ochre. 
t  Found  alfo  at  Perkiomen  and  Coneftoga.  (Cc/trad,) 


--.""'    ;W 
ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

«..  *  ...  •  iJfl.i  '       ^, : 

MURIATE    OF    LEAl).^ 

Muriate  of  Lead  is  of  a  greenish  yellow  colour,  and  is 
found  crystallized  in  quadrangular  prisms,  which  are 
sometimes  terminated  by  pyramids ;  it  is  soft  and  some- 
what transparent,  and  consists  of  85.5  of  oxide  of  lead; 
8.5  of  muriatic  acid,  and  6  of  carbonic  acid.  It  is 
found  at  Cromford  Level  near  Matlock,  and  in  the 
mountains  of  Bavaria. 

•   '. , .     .  v "    }\  t  -     ,'".  :   x  '  '          '  •     •      Jr 

PHOSPHATE    OF    LEAD.f 

Phosphate  of  Lead  is  of  various  shades  of  green,  yel- 
low, and  yellowish  brown  ;  but  when  reduced  to  pow- 
der is  always  of  a  grey  colour.  It  is  found  principally 
in  six-sided  prisms,  sometimes  having  six-sided  pyra- 
mids, but  does  not  afford  many  varieties  of  form ;  it  is 
divisible  into  an  obtuse  rhomboid,  which  therefore  is 
considered  to  be  its  primitive  crystal.  Its  crystals  are 
generally  somewhat  translucent,  possess  a  resinous  lus- 
tre, and  are  brittle.  The  green  phosphate  of  lead 
consists  of  80  parts  of  oxide  of  lead,  18  of  phosphoric 
acid,  and  nearly  2  of  muriatic  acid. 

The  brown  variety  contains  about  2  per  cent,  more  of 
the  phosphoric  acid,  and  2  per  cent,  less  of  the  oxide  of 
lead.  A  variety  is  found  at  Johngeorgenstadt  in  Saxo- 
ny, consisting  of  about  77  parts  of  oxide  of  lead,  9  of 
phosphoric  acid,  and  4  of  arsenic  acid,  the  rest  being 
water. 

The  Phosphate  of  Lead  occurs  in  veins  in  primitive 
and  secondary  mountains ;  it  sometimes  accompanies 
sulphuret  of  lead,  carbonate  of  lead,  iron  ochre,  quartz, 
sulphate  of  barytes,  and  carbonate  of  lime.  The  green 
phosphate  occurs  at  Alston  Moor  in  Cumberland,  at  Al- 

*  A  carbonated  muriate  of  lead  of  a  cubic  form  with  tetrahedral  cryf- 
tals,  occurs  in  the  lead  mine  of  Southampton,  Maffachufetts,  among  the 
galena.  The  cryftals  are  nearly  transparent,  of  a  very  light  green,  and 
muated  in  clufters,  (Meade.} 

|  Found  at  Perkiomen,  Weftar  and  Southampton;  among  the  other 
forms  of  lead. 


TO  MINERALOGY  217 

lonhead,  Grasshill,  and  Teesdale  in  Durham  ;  at  Nithis- 
dale  in  Yorkshire ;  and  at  Wanlockhead  in  Scotland. 


SULPHATE  OP    LEAD.' 


This  substance  mostly  occurs  in  translucent  crystals, 
which  are  colourless,  or  of  a  smoke  or  yellowish  grey 
colour.  The  form  of  the  primitive  crystal  is  a  rectan^ 
gular  octohedron  ;  the  crystals  in  my  possession  exhibit 
30  varieties  of  form  ;  they  are  all  from  Cornwall.  Sul- 
phate of  Lead  is  composed  of  about  71  parts  of  oxide 
of  lead,  24.8  of  sulphuric  acid,  2  of  water,  and  1  of 
oxide  of  iron.  It  has  been  found  in  Andalusia  in  Spain  ; 
at  Wanlockhead  and  the  Lead  hills  in  Scotland;  but  prin- 
cipally in  the  Parys  mine  in  Anglesea.  In  Cornwall,  it 
was  met  with  in  a  copper  vein  in  a  mine  called  Veleno- 
weth,  very  near  the  surface,  and  was  accompanied  by 
the  sulphuret  of  lead ;  it  occured  in  an  ochreous  brittle 
substance,  termed  by  the  miner  Gossen. 


ARSENIATE  OF  LEAD. 


The  arseniate  of  Lead  occurs  principally  in  slender 
six-sided  crystals,  which  sometimes  are  fasciculated  ; 
or  in  fibres,  of  various  shades  of  yellow,  sometimes  with 
a  tinge  of  green  ;  they  are  generally  translucent,  and 
have  a  resinous  lustre.  The  specific  gravity  of  Arseni- 
ate of  Lead  is  about  6  ;  it  consists  of  69.76  per  cent,  of 
oxide  of  lead,  26.4  of  arsenic  acid,  and  1.58  of  muriatic 
acid.  In  France,  it  has  been  met  with  in  a  Jead  mine, 
accompanied  by  quartz,  fluate  of  lime,  and  sulphuret  of 
lead.  In  Andalusia,  in  felspar,  with  quartz  and  galena  j 
and  in  Hue  I  Unity  mine  in  Cornwall,  in  a  copper  vein 
situate  in  granite. 

*  Found  in  the  Southampton  mine  in  plates  or  tables,  upon  the  cubes 
of  galena,  and  fometimes  in  the  cavities  of  the  quartzy  matrix.      Colour 
with  a  ftrong  glafly  luftre.  (Meade.) 

T 


218  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 


MOLYBDATE    OF    LEAD.* 

The  Molybdate  of  Lead  is  met  with  principally  in 
crystals  of  various  shades  of  yellow,  having  a  glistening 
resinous  lustre ;  it  is  soft,  brittle,  and  somewhat  trans- 
lucent. The  primitive  crystal  is  an  octohedron,  with  si- 
milar and  equal  isosceles  triangular  planes.  The  crys- 
tals in  my  possession  exhibit  35  varieties  of  form.  The 
specific  gravity  of  Molybdate  of  Lead  is  about  5  ;  and 
it  consists  of  58.4  parts  of  oxide  of  lead,  38  of  molyb- 
dic  acid,  and  2.08  of  oxide  of  iron.  It  was  first  dis- 
covered at  Bleyberg  in  Carinthia,  upon  a  compact  lime- 
stone ;  and  has  been  since  found  at  Zimapan  in  Mexico, 
on  the  same  substance.  It  occurs  also  near  Freyberg 
and  at  Annaberg  in  Saxony,  and  at  Felsobanya  in  Hun- 
gary. 

CHROMATE    OF    LEAD. 

This  beautiful  substance  is  of  an  orange  red  colour ;  it 
has  mostly  been  met  with  crystallized  :  the  primitive 
form  of  its  crystals  is  an  oblique  four-sided  prism ;  the 
varieties  it  assumes  are  very  few.  It  consists  of  64  parts 
of  oxide  of  lead,  and  36  of  chromic  acid.  This  mine- 
ral is  extremely  rare  ;  it  was  found  in  the  gold  mine  of 
Beresof,  in  the  Uralian  mountains  in  Siberia,  upon  a 
quartzose  gangue  containing  oxide  of  lead  and  oxide  of 
antimony,  which  occurred  in  a  vein  containing  sulphuret 
of  lead,  parallel  with  another  containing  decomposed 
auriferous  pyrites.  These  veins  are  situated  in  gneiss 
and  micaceous  schistus.  Pallas  mentions  having  also 
discovered  this  mineral  15  leagues  higher  north,  dis- 
seminated in  beds  of  clay,  and  dispersed  on  beds  of 
sandstone,  alternating  with  each  other,  and  accompanied 
by  cubic  crystals  of  auriferous  pyrites. 

This  substance  is  said  to  be  occasionally  accompanied 
by  small  acicular  crystals  of  a  green  colour,  which  are 

*  Found  at  Perkionaen,  cryftallized  in  fmall  quadrangular  tables  with 
bevelled  edges.  (Conrad")  At  Southampton,  in  fraall  tabular  cryftals  of  a 
dark  waxen  colour,  (Mcade.) 


TO    MINERALOGY.1  219 

considered  to  consist  of  oxide  of  lead  and  Joxide  of 
chrome,  but  have  not  been  analyzed. 


ZINC. 

Zinc  is  a  bluish  grey  metal ;  its  tenacity  is  not  great; 
a  piece  one-tenth  of  an  inch  in  diameter  will  hold  iwen- 
ty«six  pounds  without  breaking  ;  and  being  far  less  duc- 
tile than  some  other  metals,  its  importance  is  thereby 
diminished.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  7. 

Zinc  is  never  found  in  the  pure  metallic  state,  but  mi- 
neralized by  sulphur,  oxygen,  the  carbonic  or  the  sul- 
phuric acids  ;  and  combined  with  oxide  of  iron,  silex, 
and  with  water.  All  the  varieties  of  its  ores  may  be  said 
to  be  comprehended  in  the  four  following  species,  most 
of  which  have  the  appearance  rather  of  earthy  than  of 
metalliferous  substances  ;  they  belong  chiefly  to  second- 
ary countries. 

Zinc  is  employed  by  the  Chinese  for  coins :  it  enters 
into  the  composition  of  many  alloys.  It  is  sometimes 
used  in  medicine,  and  in  oil  painting. 

BLENDE.     SULPHUKET  OF  ZINC.* 

Blende  is  met  with  of  various  shades  of  yellow, 
brown,  and  black ;  it  occurs  of  indeterminate  shapes,- 
massive  and  crystallized  ;  it  yields  easily  to  the  knife, 
and  is  brittle. 

The  form  of  the  primitive  crystal  of  Blende,  into 
which  the  compact  variety  is  readily  reduced  by  clea- 
vage, is  the  rhomboidal  dodecahedron  ;  but  the  varieties 
of  form  assumed  by  its  crystals  are  very  numerous, 

*  The  Sulphuret  of  Zinc  frequently  accompanies  the  Sulphuret  of 
Lead  ;  as  at  the  Rochefter  mine  in  Ulfter  county,  N.  Y. ;  in  that  near 
Baltimore ;  at  Perkiomen  ;  and  Southampton. 

Blende  of  different  colours,  is  found  in  feveral  other  places  ;  its  impor- 
tance is  derived  more  from  its  fitnefs  for  mineralogical  cabinets,  than  its 
value  as  an  ore  fit  for  working. 


220          ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

though  not  very  intelligible,  except  such  as  are  obvious- 
ly allied  to  the  tetrahedron,  octohedron  and  the  cube. 

The  massive  variety  of  a  brown  colour,  affords  50  parts 
of  zinc,  12  of  iron,  arid  about  29  of  sulphur ;  some  varie- 
ties are  phosphorescent  by  friction. 

Blende  is  found  in  most  mineral  countries,  especially 
in  beds  in  the  older  secondary.  It  is  met  with  in  metal- 
liferous veins  traversing  primitive  mountains,  principally 
in  those  containing  copper  and  lead  ;  it  often  accompa- 
nies, or  is  accompanied  by,  iron  pyrites,  native  silver, 
grey  antimony,  spathose  iron,  sulphate  of  barytes,  calca- 
reous spar,  and  quartz.  It  is  very  abundant  in  many  of 
the  copper  and  tin  veins  of  Cornwall,  especially  the 
former,  and  at  a  small  depth  beneath  the  surface.  Some 
of  the  blendes  of  Hungary  and  Transylvania  are  auri- 
ferous. 

CALAMINE.        CARBONATE  OF  ZINC. 

^.'»;  'ii*jj       *„  .  -      i    '  ' % '  i  '.  ,/0"-<' 

This  substance  is  found  earthy,  compact,  and  crystal- 
lized ;  it  yields  easily  to  the  knife,  and  has  remarkably 
the  appearance  of  an  earthy  or  stony  substance. 

The  form  of  its  primitive  crystal  is  an  obtuse  rhom- 
boid. It  does  not  assume  many  varieties  of  form  :  but  is 
often  found  investing  crystals  of  carbonated  lime  ;  which, 
in  some  instances,  being  decomposed,  leave  the  cala- 
raine  in  the  forms  they  had  assumed. 

It  is  chiefly  found  accompanying  sulphuret  of  lead,  in 
shell  limestone  ;  and  is  particularly  abundant  in  the 
Mendip  bills  in  Somersetshire  ;  at  Holywell  and  other 
places  in  Flintshire  ;  in  Derbyshire  ;  and  in  Carinthia, 
&c.  In  France,  near  Juliers,  it  forms  very  extensive 
beds,  and  is  accompanied  by  certain  ores  of  lead  and 
iron. 

It  yields  about  65  per  cent,  of  oxide  of  zinc,  and  35 
of  carbonic  acid ;  a  variety  is  found  in  the  Rutland 
mine  at  Mallock,  which  is  combined  with  carbonate  of 
copper. 


TO  MINERALOGi*.  221' 


ELECTRIC   CALAMINE. 

The  name  of  this  mineral  is  derived  from  its  property 
of  becoming  electric  when  gently  heated.  Its  colour  is 
greyish,  bluish,  or  yellowish  white  ;  it  is  found,  in  mass, 
and  also  crystallized  in  small  flat  hexahedral  prisms3 
which  are  harder  than  common  calamine. 

It  is  found  in  Hungary,  at  Fribourg;  and  in  Leices- 
tershire, Flintshire,  and  at  Wanlockhead.  It  differs 
from  the  other  ores  of  zinc  in  always  containing  a  con- 
siderable proportion  of  silex.  The  variety  from  Wan- 
lockhead yields  66  of  oxide  of  zinc,  and  33  of  silex. 

SULPHATE  OF  ZINC.  ; 

This  mineral  is  a  white,  limpid,  soluble  salt,  and* is  by 
some  mineralogists  ranked  amongst  saline  minerals;  it 
has  a  nauseous  metallic  taste,  and  is  found  filamentous, 
massive,  and  stalactitical. 

In  the  natural  state  it  is  rare,  and  chiefly  occurs  in 
capillary  efflorescences,  or  in  stalactites,  on  the  sides  of 
the  workings  in  veins  of  sulphuret  of  zinc.  It  is  thus 
occasionally  seen  at  Ramelsberg  in  Switzerland,  it  Idria 
in  Carniola,  and  at  Schemnitz  in  Hungary.  It  also  oc- 
curs at  Holywell  in  Flintshire.  That  of  Ramelsberg 
yields  by  analysis  about  27  parts  of  oxide  of  zinc,  22 
of  sulphuric  acid>  50  of  water,  and  a  trace  of  oxide  of 
manganese. 

RED    OXIDE   OK   ZINC. 

This  mineral  was  brought  to  me  as  long  ago  as  the  year  1 799,  by  a 
perfon  from  New-Jerfey,  who  faid  it  contained  zinc.  He  wifhed  me  to 
make  experiments  upon  it  ;  but  I  did  not  find  opportunity  or  inclination 
to  analize  it.  I  however  gave  fpecimens  freely  to  my  mineralogical 
friends  ;  and  among  others,  to  Dr.  Bruce. 

It  occurs  among  the  iron  ores  of  Sufiex  county  ;  and  is  indeed  the  ce- 
ment or  matrix  which  connects  the  grains  of  various  figures  and  magni- 
tudes of  an  oxyd  of  iron  that  is  cryftallized,  though  more  commonly  irre- 
gular. It  is  found  imbedded  in  calcareous  fpar.  Now  and  then,  the  oxyd 
of  zinc  is  whitifh,  adhering  to  the  black  oxyd  of  iron. 

It  conSfls  of  Zinc  76  parts. 

Oxygen  16 

Oxides  of  manganefe  and  iron     8 

zoo 

T2 


ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

Its  colour  is  light  and  dark  red,  approaching  to  blood  red,  ruby  and  au- 
rora red.  It  is  opaque,  though  generally  tranflucent  on  the  edges.  Its 
fracture  foliated  ;  crofs-fracture  flightly  conchoidal.  Luftre  on  the  frefli 
fracture,  (hining  ;  after  long  expofure  to  the  atmofphere,  dull ;  the  furface 
ii?  time  becoming  covered  with  a  pearly -white  cruft.  Conftitution  brittle, 
eafy  to  be  powdered,  and  the  powder  brownifli-yellow,  approaching  to 
orange.  Steel  fcratches  it  eafily.  Its  fpecific  gravity  is  6.aa.  (Amer.  Min. 
Jour.  p.  96—97.) 

A  very  curious  and  interefting  queftion  arofe  in  Congrefs,  when  I  was, 
in  1810,  a  reprefentative  from  the  city  of  New- York,  to  the  popular 
forjnch  of  that  body.  It  involved  the  fubject  of  zinc,  fpelter,  teutenague, 
and  brafs  teutenague,  as  connected  with  duties  on  importing  them  into  the 
United  States,  from  foreign  ports.  The  whole  correfpondence  and  contro- 
verfy,  are  recorded  in  Med.  Repos.  Vol.  15,  p.  107—112.  In  my  collec- 
tion of  minerals  are  fpecimens  of  each  article,  as  I  received  them  from  thr 
Collector  of  the  Cuftoms  at  New- York. 

"  Zinc,  is  a  metal  well  known  to  be  abfolutely  neceflary  in  making 
brafs.  It  is  imported  from  England  and  the  Eaft- Indies.  From  the  In- 
dies, it  is  imported  under  the  name  of  Teutenague,  which  the  ftatute  fays 
is  free.  A  metal  by  this  name  is  not  known  in  mineralogy  ;  how  it  ihould 
have  been  noticed  as  free,  is  a  myftery  to  thofe  who  know  that  it  derived 
ks  name  from  a  Spoon-maker,  who  lived  in  Birmingham  about  the  year 
1730.  He  made  the  difcovery,  that  tin  and  a  fmall  quantity  of  regulus  of 
antimony,  produced  a  compound  fomewhat  better  than  tin  and  lead,  which 
makes  pewter.  Teutan,  proud  of  the  difcovery,  gave  it  the  name  of  Teu- 
fenague,  or  Teutania,  as  it  is  more  generally  called.  Little  did  the  honeft 
fpoon-maker  think  he  would  have  been  fo  much  honoured  in  our  ftatute 
Labis  calaminaris  is  free  ;  this  is  the  ore  of  zinc ;  none  of  which  is  .impor- 
ted, except  a  fmall  quantity  of  the  calcine,  as  a  drug.  It  is  well  known,  that 
the  Britifh  prohibit  the  exportation  of  all  metals,  not  manufactured  :  the 
fhippers  of  zinc,  therefore,  are  neceflitated  to  fhip  zinc  under  the  name  of 
fpelter.  Spelter,  in  fadt,  is  a  mixture  of  fine  brafs  and  zinc  granulated, 
ufed  by  brafs  founders  and  braziers,  to  folder.  The  brafs  founders  in  this 
country,  make  all  they  ufe  ;  it  is  not  imported  except  in  fmall  quantities. 
The  only  difference  between  Englifh  and  India  zinc  is  about  5  per  cent,  in 
favour  of  the  Englilh,  on  account  of  its  being  lefs  droffy.  If  the  article  of 
zinc  is  to  be  admitted  as  free  from  duty  it  Ihould  be  exprefled  under  the 
naflte of  Spflftr,  or  Zinc"  (C«r//V.) 


QUICKSILVER  on  MERCURY. 

The  liquidity  of  Mercury  at  the  ordinary  temperature 
of  the  atmosphere,  is  a  remarkable  character,  and  dis- 
tinguishes it  from  all  other  metals,  It  is  thirteen  times 
heavier  than  water.  It  is  found  pure  ;  and  also  com- 
bined with  silver,  with  sulphur,  and  with  small  quanti- 
ties of  silex,  oxide  of  copper,  carbon  of  bitumen  ;  and 


TO    MIXERALOGY.  223 

mineralized  in  the  state  of  an  oxide,  by  the  muriatic  and 
sulphuric  acids. 

Its  ores  are  not  numerous  ;  and  being  rarely  found  in 
primitive  rocks,  is  not  considered  to  be  a  metal  of  the 
newest  formation. 

The  quicksilver  mines  of  Idria,  in  Saxony,  are  said 
to  yield  100  tons  annually;  and  those  of  Spain  a  still 
greater  quantity.  The  mines  of  Peru  are  by  some  sup- 
posed to  be  still  richer. 

The  uses  of  mercury  in  medicine,  in  the  arts,  and  in 
experimental  philosophy  are  numerous ;  but  its  chief 
use  is  in  the  separation  of  gold  and  silver  from  their  ores, 
by  a  process  called  amalgamation.  When  amalgama- 
ted with  tin,  and  laid  on  glass,  it  forms  mirrors. 

NATIVE    QUICKSILVER. 

Native  Quicksilver  is  of  a  silver  white  colour,  and 
splendent  metallic  lustre  ;  it  occurs  disseminated  in  glo- 
bules, or  collected  in  the  cavities  of  its  mines,  which 
are  commonly  situated  in  calcareous  rocks,  indurated 
clay,  or  argillaceous  schistus.  It  is  mostly  met  with  in 
the  mines  containing  the  ores  of  quicksilver.  It  some- 
times contains  a  little  silver. 

Quick  silver  is  found  in  the  Palatinate,  Saxony,  Bo- 
hemia, Hungary  and  Transylvania ;  and  abundantly  in 
Peru. 

NATIVE    AMALGAM.        SILVER    AMALGAM. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  silver  white,  or  of  a  greyish  co- 
lour, and  is  sometimes  semi-fluid  ;  when  compact  it  is 
very  brittle,  which  at  once  distinguishes  it  from  silver  : 
it  is  mostly  tarnished  externally.  It  occurs  also  in  small 
octohedrons,  in  rhomboidal  dodecahedrons,  and  in  thin 
laminae;  and  is  commonly  found  in  a  kind  of  clay,  which 
is  of  various  colours.  It  consists  of  64  of  mercury,  and 
36  of  silver.  It  is  a  rare  minei^l,  and  has  principally 
been  met  with  at  Rosenau  in  Hungary,  and  at  Maers- 
feldt  and  Moschellandsberg  in  the  duchy  of  Deux-ponts. 
It  is  said  to  be  found  in  veins  containing  silver,  travers- 
ing tiiose  enclosing  quicksilver. 


224  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION, 


CINNABAR. 

Cinnabar  is  of  various  shades  of  red,  frequently  co- 
chineal red.  It  is  very  heavy  ;  it  occurs  massive,  when 
it  is  dull  and  opake;  it  also  occurs  of  a  minutely  fibrous 
structure,  with  a  glimmering  silky  lustre  ;  also  lamellar, 
of  a  shining  lustre  and  translucent;  and  crystallized  in  the 
regular  hexahedral  prism,  which  is  considered  to  be 
the  form  of  its  primitive  crystal ;  only  one  variety  of 
form  has  been  noticed.  It  consists  of  81  of  mercury, 
1-5  of  sulphur,  and  4  of  iron. 

A  variety  called  Hepatic  Cinnabar  is  united  with 
small  portions  of  carbon,  silex  and  oxide  of  copper; 
and  this  variety  sometimes  occurs  mixed  in  various  pro- 
portions with  coarse  coal  or  bituminous  shale,  and  is 
then  called  Bituminous  Cinnabar. 

The  most  abundant  European  mines  of  Cinnabar,  are 
those  at  Idria  in  Carniola  (which  principally  yield  the 
hepatic  variety),  and  those  of  Almaden  in  Spain,  which 
are  situated  in  the  independent  coal-formation.  The 
ores  of  Cinnabar  are  usually  accompanied  by  calcareous 
spar,  spathose  iron,  micaceous  iron,  and  iron  and  cop- 
per pyrites. 

Cinnabar  is  said  to  occur  sparingly  in  primitive  strata. 

HORN    QUICKSILVER. 

Horn  Quicksilver  is  of  a  pearl  grey  colour,  sometimes 
of  a  greenish  yellow ;  it  is  soft,  translucent,  and  of  a 
vitreous  lustre ;  it  occurs  massive ;  also  crystallized  in 
small  4  sided  short  prismatic  crystals,  terminated  by  4 
sided  pyramids,  and  therefore  in  dodecahedrons :  but 
the  plants  of  the  summits  are  rhombic,  the  lateral 
planes  are  six-sided.  It  consists  of  about  76  parts  of 
oxide  of  mercury,  16  of  muriatic  acid,  and  7  of  sulphu- 
ric acid.  It  is  found  at  Almaden  in  Spain,  at  Horso- 
witz  in  Bohemia,  and^  in  the  mines  of  Deux-ponts  in 
the  cavities  of  a  ferruginous  clay,  mingled  with  mala* 
chite  and  grey  copper,  &c. 


COMBUSTIBLE   MINERALS. 

Including  non-metallic  substances,  the  greater  part 
of  which  are  eminently  combustible,  and  whose 
bases  are  carbon  and  sulphur. 


SULPHUR.* 

The  nature  and  properties  of  Sulphur  have  already 
been  noticed  in  treating  of  combustibles  generally. 

Sulphur  is  found  in  the  mineral,  vegetable  and  ani* 
mal  kingdoms ;  in  the  two  latter  it  occurs  so  rarely,  that  all 
the  vast  commercial  demands  for  it  are  supplied  from 

*  In  the  town  of  Phelps,  about  eleven  miles  to  the  northweft  of  Geneva, 
are  fituated  the  fulphureous  fountains  of  Clifton. 

From  a  fide-hill,  in  front  of  the  public  houfe,  numerous  fprings  dif- 
charge  their  waters.  The  ftones  and  rocks  through  which  they  iffue  are 
calcareous.  The  main  body  of  them  are  filled  with  the  remains  of  tefta- 
ceous  animals,  and  marine  exuvisc.  Some  of  them  are  formed  differently 
from  any  fhells  I  ever  faw.  Their  ftiapes  are  fo  fmgular  and  fantaftic, 
that  it  is  hard  to  refer  feverul  of  them  to  any  known  or  living  fpecies.— 
There  are  likewife  plentiful  depofites  of  calcareous  carbonate.  This  lime 
feems  to  have  been  held  in  folution  by  the  water,  and  colled  s  among  the 
flones  and  other  bodies  where  the  current  is  gentle,  or  approaches  to  flag- 
nation.  It  is  affociated  with  a  portion  of  the  fulphur  deposited  by  the  in- 
flammable air. 

The  water  iflues  in  the  greateft  quantity  from  three  principal  fources. — 
It  is  as  abundant  as  from  the  moft  plentiful  fprings  1  ever  faw.  The  wa- 
ter, as  it  comes  forth,  is  perfectly  tranfparent.  But  it  loon  becomes 
opaque,  and  of  a  yellowifh  colour,  refembling  a  diluted  mixture  of  cream 
with  water.  This  hue  appears,  as  it  defcends  the  declivity,  and  becomes 
ftill  more  manifeft  as  it  traverfes  the  meadow,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill. 

This  yellowilh  matter  fettles  on  the  rocks,  ftones,  mofe,  and  other 
plants.  On  being  collected,  it  proves  to  be  brimftone.  It  is  in  a  ft  ate  to 
be  friendly  to  vegetable  life.  For  though  it  covers  the  leaves  and  ftems  of 
the  aquatic  plants,  over  which  the  water  flows,  it  feems  to  do  them  no  in- 
jury. Though  coated  with  fulphur,  they  enjoy  entire  health.  There  did 
not  appear  any  fign  of  blacknefs  or  erofion  from  this  caufe,  on  the  blades 
of  grafs  which  were  conftantly  expofed  to  it. 

The  water  is  equally  friendly  to  the  life  of  animals*   Horfes  drink  it  free- 


226  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

the  former  source.  It  is  found  nearly  pure  ;  and  is  then 
termed  Native  sulphur.  It  is  also  found  in  combina- 
tion with  several  of  the  metals,  forming  the  various 
pyrites,  and  the  sulphuretted  ores.  In  the  state  of  an 
acid,  it  occurs  combined  with  some  of  the  earths  and 
metals. 

ly,  and  without  any  inconvenience.  Other  domeftic  creatures  do  the 
fame,  and  are  refrefned  as  much  by  it,  to  all  appearance,  as  by  common 
water.  Human  beings  alib  drink  it,  without  any  bad  effedt.  In  Come, 
it  excites  a  little  naufea,  efpecially  upon  an  empty  ftomach.  But  this  feems 
to  arife  from  the  offenfivenefs  of  iulphur  to  the  fmeli  and  tafte  of  fuch  per- 
fons,  rather  than  from  any  thing  deleterious  in  the  water.  A  fifherman 
aflured  me  that  he  had  taken  trouts  with  the  hook  in  this  fulphureous 
brook.  And  it  cannot  be  well  fuppofed  that  there  fhould  be  any  thing 
very  difagreeable  in  the  water,  voluntarily  vifited  by  fuch  delicate  and 
dainty  fifties.  They  probably  are  induced  to  approach  the  fource,  for  the 
purpofe  of  feeding  upon  certain  fpecies  of  worms,  (one  of  which  has  fome 
refemblance  to  the  leech)  which  adhere  in  great  numbers  to  the  lower 
fides  of  the  ftones.  This  water  is  their  refidence,  and  the  trouts  probably 
enter  it  to  make  a  prey  of  them. 

The  depofites  of  calcareous  and  fulphureous  matters  are  not  the  only 
things  which  diftinguifh  thcfc  fprings.  A  great  quantity  of  vapour  ef- 
capes  from  them.  This  rifes  to  a  confiderable  height,  and  may  be  fmelled 
many  rods  to  leeward  as  you  approach.  The  odour  is  that  of  inflammable 
air  holding  fulphur  in  folution.  In  the  ordinary  condition  of  fulphur,  the 
hydrogen  is  too  I'm  all  in  quantity,  relatively  to  the  fuiphur,  to  rife  with  it 
into  the  atmofphere.  But  when  the  proportions  are  reverfed,  and  the  hy- 
drogen is  in  a  very  large  ratio  to  the  fulphur,  it  carries  away  with  itfelf  a 
portion  of  that  material.  Upon  the  fame  principle  that  an  abfolutely 
large  body  of  inflammable  gas  cai;  elevate  a  balloon,  a  relatively  large  por- 
tion of  it  can  carry  up  atoms  of  fulphur.  Thefe  are  wafted  about,  and  dif- 
fufed  through  the  air. 

Though  the  water,  when  it  firft  rifes  from  the  earth  is  perfectly  clear, 
yet  as  was  before  obl'erv.t-d,  it  foon  becomes  turbid.  This  probably  hap- 
pens in  confequence  of  the  efcape  of  the  inflammable  air,  leaving  behind 
that  portion  of  fulphur  which  it  is  unable  to  carry  off:  and  this  dilengaged 
fulphur  firft  changes  the  colour  of  the  water,  and  then  fettles  on  the  leaves, 
grafs,  and  ftones.  In  confequence  of  this  copious  extrication  of  gafeous 
matters,  the  water  is  cold  ;  and  it  contains  fome  ingredient,  which  is  pro- 
bably a  little  uncombined  fulphuric  acid,  which  decompofes  foap.  For  on 
attempting  to  form  a  lather  with  it,  curdles  were  immediately  produced. 

At  a  fhort  diftance,  lefs  I  fhould  think  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and  on 
the  other  fide  of  the  road,  are  other  fulphureous  oozings.  In  thefe,  the 
water  is  fmall  in  quantity.  The  fulphuretted  hydrogen  immediately  ef- 
capes :  the  fulphur  which  it  does  not  carry  off  with  it,  is  left  behind.— 
There  being  too  little  water  to  wafh  it  away,  it  accumulates  in  beds  or 
jloughs.  This  is  alfo  on  a  fide- hill :  but,  notwithftanding  the  favourable- 
nefs  of  the  fituation  for  carrying  away  the  fulphur,  it  has  gathered  until  a 
fort  of  marfli  or  puddle,  of  perhaps  ten  rods  in  diameter  has  been  formed. 
Here  it  lies  mixed  with  mud,  leaves,  flicks,  and  every  ingredient  that  acci- 
dent has  thrown  into  it.  The  mafs  is  fo  confiderable  that  it  would  be  eafy 
to  (hovel  uj>  cart-loads  of  it ;  but  I  did  not  hear  that  any  attempts  had  been 
made  to  refine,  purify,  or  in  any  other  way  to  manufacture  it. 


TO    MIUERALOGr.  227 

Native  Sulphur  is  of  a  pale  greenish  yellow  colour. 
It  occurs  in  mass,  disseminated,  in  rounded  fragments, 
stalactitic,  and  crystallized.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about 
two. 

It  is  sometimes,  though  rarely,  found  in  veins  in  pri- 
mitive mountains;  its  common  repository  is  in  beds  of 

If  I  was  difpofed  to  offer  a  conjecture  concerning  th«  produ&ion  of  this 
inflammable  air,  and  of  the  fulphur  which  accompanies  it,  I  (hould  derive 
them  from  the  animal  remains  which  make  fo  large  a  proportion  of  the 
calcareous  ftrata  hereabout.  The  rocks  at  this  place,  as  well  as  at  Niaga- 
ra, and  along  the  fhores  of  Lake  Erie,  are  remarkable  for  the  fetid  fmell 
they  emit,  on  being  rubbed  or  ftruck.  This  leads  to  a  belief  that  both 
hydrogen  and  fulphur  enter  into  their  competition.  This  is  further  mani- 
fefted  by  the  frequent  appearance  of  them  both,  where  thefe  beds  of  mate- 
rials are  undergoing  fpontaneous  decompofition  from  internal  caufes.  In 
fuch  cafes,  they  are  evident  to  the  fenfes  in  their  proper  and  feparate 
forms.  The  incruftations  of  fulphur,  in  the  fiflures  of  fome  rocks,  and  the 
extrication  of  hydrogen  gas  from  the  crevices  of  others,  in  this  curious  and 
interefting  region,  perfuade  one  ftrongly,  that  fuch  is  the  fact. 

How  it  happened  that  organic  fubftances  make  part  of  the  deep  and  ex- 
tenfive  ftrata  which  underlay  this  country,  may  be  refolved  into  the 
greater  queftion,  by  what  means  fuch  materials  enter  into  the  compofition 
of  rocks  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  and  in  fituations  very  remote  from 
the  ocean.  They  lead  the  mind  by  indubitable  evidence  to  the  time  when, 
in  ages  too  diftant  for  the  chronologift  to  compute,  the  waters  of  the  fea 
covered  the  face  of  the  land. 

The  country  lying  fouth  of  the  lakes  Ontario  and  Erie,  bears  within 
itfelf  full  teftimony  of  the  former  dominion  of  oceanic  water  there.  The 
fait  fpringsin  Galen,  Montezuma,  Salina,  and  other  places,  may  be  conceived 
as  proceeding  from  beds  of  fal-gem  in  the  bowels  of  the  earth.  And  this 
native  fait  may  be  confidered  as  a  depofite  made  from  the  brine  of  the  fea, 
fometime  fince  the  ftrata  of  limeftone  were  formed.  When  the  fait- water 
withdrew  to  the  lakes,  the  upland  was  gradually  freed  from  its  fait,  here, 
as  in  other  places,  by  the  rains  and  the  floods.  The  land  being  thus  frefh- 
ened,  the  falt-water  collected  in  the  lakes  and  refervoirs  ;  and  had  there 
been  no  outlets,  they  would  have  been  collections  of  briny  fluids  ftill.  But 
as  all  the  lakes  of  our  continent  have  channels  for  difcharging  their  con- 
tents, it  has  happened  in  the  courfe  of  aqueous  circulation,  that  the  primi- 
tive faltnefs  has  difappeared,  and  thefe  refervoirs  of  falt-water  are  now  fil- 
led with  frefli.  The  lakes  of  North  America  have  long  fince  undergone 
the  frefhening  operation  which  the  Black  Sea  is  now  undergoing.  For  it 
may  be  predicted  that  the  Euxine,  which  is  now  but  a  brackifh  water,  will, 
in  procefs  of  time,  lofe  the  whole  of  its  faltnefs. 

The  lakes  having  undergone  this  transformation,  and  fo  altered  then- 
character,  we  look  at  firft  with  furprize  upon  the  fait  and  (hells  which  are 
left  behind.  Thefe,  however,  are  monuments  of  the  former  ftate  of  things ; 
and  when  duly  confidered  by  the  light  which  geology  affords,  enable  us  to 
comprehend  many  of  the  fails  which  would  be  otherwife  inexplicable. 

My  theory,  then,  of  the  fulphureous  fprings  at  Clifton,  is  concifely  this  t 
before  the  water  of  the  ocean  retired  to  the  lakes,  ftrata  of  limeftone  were 
depofited,  and  as  parts  thereof,  vaft  quantities  of  fhells,  and  other  remains 
of  teftaceous  and  perhaps  other  animal  matter.  From  thefe,  there  are  ex> 
tricated  in  fome  places,  hydrogen  gas  and  fulphur :  and  water,  gufhing 


228  ELEMENTARY   INTRODUCTION 

secondary  gypsum,  where  it  occurs  in  rounded  masses ; 
it  is  sometimes  met  with  in  beds  of  indurated  marl,  and 
compact  limestone  :  occasionally  it  occurs  as  an  ingre- 
dient in  mineral  waters.  Volcanoes  abound  with  sul- 
phur, which  sublimes  in  the  rifts  and  cavities  of  the  lava 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  their  craters. 

Humbolt  mentions  its  occurrence  in  a  bed  of  quartz, 
traversing  a  primitive  mountain  of  micaceous  schistus, 
in  Quito.  He  also  cites  two  deposites  in  primitive  por- 

pfcyry-        III 

Sulphur  occurs  in  rounded  masses  in  blue  marl  in  the 
Apennines  of  Piedmont.  In  some  of  the  glaciers  of 
Mont  Blanc,  it  is  disseminated  in  masses  of  sulphate  of 
lime  and  clay.  At  Conilla,  near  Cadiz  in  Spain,  it  oc- 
curs in  swine-stone.  It  is  met  with  in  the  gypsum  of 

along,  carries  \vlth  it  a  portion  of  the  lime.  The  hydrogen  gas  fo  fepara  - 
ted,  is  the  menftruum  for  the  fulphur,  and  the  water  for  the  lime.  On 
coming  into  the  open  air,  the  portions  of  fulphur  and  lime,  which  the  gas 
and  the  water  cannot  any  longer  retain  in  folution,  are  precipitated  on  the 
adjacent  bodies. 

I  have  fpecimens  from  Clifton,  of  the  fetid  limeftone,  madreporites,  and 
other  marine  animals,  and  of  recent  vegetable  fubftances,  incrufted  with 
Brimftone.  I  pofiefs,  likewife,  pieces  of  the  fetid  carbonate  of  lime,  from 
the  falls  of  Niagara,  carrying  fulphur  in  a  layer  of  the  thicknefs  of  the 
eighth  of  an  inch. 

-  The  fulphur  fpnng,  N.W.  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.  is  of  fufficient  fize  and  fall 
for  an  overfhot  mill,  and  its  fcent  is  conveyed  by  the  wind,  nearly  the  dif- 
tance  of  two  miles.  This  fpring  iffues  out  of  the  ground  in  two  branches, 
and  adjoining  to  it  are  two  large  bogs  of  fulphur,  into  which  a  ftick  may 
be  thruft  fix  feet  deep  or  more.  It  is  fuppofed,  that  at  this  fpring,  the  ma- 
nufacture of  brimftone,  might  be  confiderably  important.  (Munro,  MeJ, 
Kefos.  Pol.  it,  p.  69 — 70.) 

The  fulphur  evolved  by  the  putrefaction  of  maritime  plants  and  marine 
animals,  fometimes  floats  in  the  form  of  a  yellow  fcum  on  the  furface  of 
the  pools  and  ftagnant  ponds  of  fait  water,  along  the  coaft  of  New-York. 
As  a  proof  of  it,  among  other  evidences,  I  relate  the  following  occurrence. 
Being  a  few  years  ago,  on  a  trip  along  the  Sound,  our  party  landed  upon 
Riker's  ifland.  The  greater  part  of  the  company  were  amufing  them- 
felves  at  the  Inn,  when  I  returned  from  a  (hort  excurfion.  I  brought 
with  me  a  parcel  of  the  fulphur  I  had  gathered  upon  the  furface  of  a  pond, 
on  a  fait  marfh.  Secretly,  and  without  any  knowledge  on  the  part  of  my 
fellow-voyagers,  I  threw  fome  of  the  brimftone  into  the  fire,  and  brought 
it  forward  on  the  hearth,  while  it  was  burning.  The  vapours,  inftead  of 
afcending  through  the  chimney,  circulated  through  the  room.  The  confe- 
quence  was,  an  univerfal  cry  arofe  that  a  match  was  lighted,  and  that  fome- 
body  was  fmoktng  them  with  brimftone. 

Very  lately,  I  received  fpecimens  of  fulphur,  elegantly  cryftallizcd,  from 
the  volcano,  nearly  extinct,  fituate  about  fisty  miles  from  Batavia,  in  the 
ifland  of  Java. 


TO  MINERALOGY.  229 

the  salt  springs  of  Lorraine.  It  also  occurs  in  Hanover, 
Hungary,  Poland,  Siberia,  and  other  countries. 

The  warm  springs  of  Aix  la  Chapelle,  of  Tripoli,  &c. 
deposite  Sulphur  when  in  contact  with  the  air  :  it  is  also 
contained  in  the  waters  of  certain  springs  in  France. 

Volcanic  Sulphur  is  met  with  in  Italy,  Iceland,  and 
Gaudaloupe  in  a  volcanic  mountain  yet  in  activity.  The 
volcanoes  of  the  Cordilleras  in  Quito,  yield  it  in  great 
abundance  and  very  pure. 

But  perhaps  the  most  remarkable  deposite  of  volca- 
nic sulphur  is  that  of  Solfatara  near  Naples,  in  a  kind 
of  sunken  plain  surrounded  by  rocks,  which  is  regarded 
as  the  crater  of  an  ancient  volcano  ;  and  from  it,  ever 
since  the  age  of  Pliny,  has  been  obtained,  a  considerable 
portion  of  the  sulphur  used  in  Europe. 

The  crystals  of  sulphur  are  not  always  well  defined  : 
those  from  Sicily  are  the  best,  being  frequently  perfect ; 
they  have  been  met  with  5  inches  in  length.  The  pri- 
mitive crystal  is  a  very  acute  octohedron,  on  which 
are  occasionally  found  the  planes  of  several  modifications. 
The  crystals  are  often  semi-transparent :  they  are  soft, 
brittle  and  easily  broken. 

DIAMOND. 

The  Diamond,  which  is  the  hardest  substance  in  na- 
ture, was  heretofore  considered  as  an  earthy  or  stony 
substance  ;  but  it  is  proved  beyond  a  doubt  not  to  be  an 
earthy  substance.  When  exposed  to  a  current  of  air, 
and  heated  to  the  temperature  of  melting  copper,  it  is 
found  to  be  gradually,  but  completely  combustible.  By 
this  process  it  may  be  wholly  converted  into  carbonic 
acid,  and  therefore  consists  of  pure  carbon. 

Diamonds  are  either  colourless,  or  of  a  yellowish,  blu- 
ish, yellowish  green,  clove  brown,  black  brown,  Prus- 
sian blue,  or  rose  red  colour.  They  are  always  found 
in  detached  crystals,  the  primitive  form  of  which  is  the 
regular  octohedron  ;  but  the  varieties  of  form  in  which 
they  occur  are  numerous.  Although  the  Diamond  is  so 
extremely  hard,  it  may  be  readily  cleaved  in  particular 
directions.  When  heated,  it  becomes  phosphorescent. 
It  possesses  only  a  simple  refraction,  but  this  may  be  at- 


230  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

tributed  greatly  to  its  density,  considered  as  a  stone, 
Newton,  in  remarking  this,  suspected  that  the  Diamond 
ought  to  be  placed  among  combustibles.  It  is  about 
3y  times  heavier  than  water. 

In  India,  the  Diamond  mines  extend  through  a  long 
tract  of  country,  from  Bengal  to  Cape  Comorin,  at  the 
foot  of  a  chain  of  mountains  50  miles  in  length  :  the  chief 
of  them  are  now  between  Golconda  and  Masulipatam. 
Diamonds  are  also  procured  from  the  Isle  of  Borneo 
and  from  Brazil ;  where,  as  well  as  in  India,  they  are 
found  in  beds  of  ferruginous  sand  or  gravel. 

Fifty  years  ago  there  were  more  than  20  places  in  the 
kingdom  of  Golconda  in  which  diamonds  of  different 
sizes  were  found.  At  that  period,  50  workings  were 
also  wrought  in  the  kingdom  of  Visapour.  These  mines 
furnished  more  diamonds  than  the  others  j  but  being 
smaller,  the  workings  were  abandoned.  The  Diamonds 
of  Pastael,  20  miles  from  Golconda,  at  the  foot  of  the 
Gate  mountains,  are  the  most  in  request.  The  mines 
are  situated  at  the  conflux  of  two  rivers  ;  they  have  pro- 
duced the  most  noted  diamonds,  and  amongst  them  that 
which  has  obtained  the  name  of  the  Pitt  or  Regent 
Diamond,  the  finest  of  the  crown  jewels  of  France, 
weighing  136  carats,  or  nearly  one  ounce,  and  which 
was  purchased  for  2,500,000  livres. 

From  Mawe's  Travels  in  the  Interior  of  Brazil,  we 
find  that  the  Diamond  mines  of  that  country  are  situated 
Dearly  due  north  of  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Janeiro.  The 
capital  of  the  district  is  called  Tjuco.  The  country  is 
covered  in  all  directions  by  grit-stone  rocks,  full  of 
rounded  quartzose  pebbles.  The  hills  are  very  nume- 
rous, and  consist  of  grit  alternating  with  micaceous 
schistus,  and  present  an  immense  number  of  blocks 
composed  of  grit-stone  imbedding  rounded  masses  of 
quartz,  giving  to  the  whole  the  appearance  of  a  pud- 
ding-stone. The  general  level  of  the  country  must  be 
considerably  elevated  ;  it  is  very  full  of  streams,  which 
fall  into  the  rivers  traversing  the  lower  country  in  almost 
every  direction.  Diamonds  have  been  largely  obtained 
in  various  places  in  this  district,  and  always  from  the 
beds  of  the  streams  or  rivers;  most  of  which  have 
yielded  them.  The  principal  work  is  that  called  Man- 


1-0  MINERALOGY.  231 

danga  on  the  river  Jigitonhonha  :  which  being  shallow, 
though  broad,  its  waters  are  either  dammed  out,  or  di- 
verted from  their  course,  or  pumped  out  by  a  particular 
contrivance.  The  mud  of  the  river  is  then  removed, 
discovering  a  stratum  of  cascalhao,  which  consists  of 
rounded  pebbles  and  gravel ;  this  is  taken  up,  and  the 
diamonds  are  washed  out  of  it.  Diamonds  are  by  no 
means  peculiar  to  the  beds  of  rivers  or  ravines  ;  they 
have  been  found  in  cavities  and  water  courses,  on  the 
summits  of  the  most  lofty  mountains  of  the  district. 

A  diamond,  found  about  15  years  ago  in  a  rivulet  cal- 
led Abaite,  a  few  leagues  north  of  the  Rio  Plata,  and 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  Prince  Regent  of  Portugal, 
weighs  seven-eighths  of  an  ounce.  It  is  of  an  octohe- 
dron  form. 

One  of  the  largest  known  diamonds  was  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  late  Empress  of  Russia ;  it  was  of  the 
size  of  a  pigeon's  egg  and  weighed  193  carats  or  nearly 
one  ounce  and  one-third  of  an  ounce. 

The  largest  diamond  hitherto  found,  is  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Rajah  of  Mattan,  in  the  island  of  Borneo,  in 
which  island  it  was  found  about  80  years  ago.  It  is 
shaped  like  an  egg,  with  an  indented  hollow  near  the 
smaller  end.  It  is  said  to  be  of  the  finest  water.  It 
weighs  367  carats.  Now  as  156  carats  are  equal  to  1 
oz.  Troy,  it  is  obvious  that  this  diamond  weighs  2  oz. 
169.87  gr.  Troy.  Many  years  ago  the  governor  of 
Batavia  tried  to  purchase  this  diamond.  He  sent  a  Mr. 
Stuvart  to  the  Rajah,  who  offered  150,000  dollars,  two 
large  war  brigs  with  their  guns  and  ammunition,  toge- 
ther with  a  certain  number  of  great  guns,  and  a  quantity 
of  powder  and  shot.  The  Rajah,  however,  refused  to 
deprive  his  family  of  so  valuable  an  hereditary  posses- 
sion, to  which  the  Malays  attach  the  miraculous  power 
of  curing  all  kinds  of  diseases,  by  means  of  the  water 
in  which  it  is  dipped,  and  with  which  they  imagine  that 
the  fortune  of  the  family  is  connected. 

The  principal  use  of  the  diamond  is  in  ornamental 
jewellery;  it  is  also  employed  by  glaziers  to  cut  glass, 
and  by  lapidaries  to  engrave  the  harder  gems ;  but  for 


232  ELEMENTARY     INTRODUCTION 

these  purposes  such  only  are  used  as  cannot  be  cleaved 
in  particular  directions. 

MINERAL    CARBON. 

Mineral  Carbon  is  of  a  greyish  black  colour,  and  is 
destitute  of  bitumen  :  it  consists  of  charcoal,  with  vari- 
ous proportions  of  earth  and  iron. 

It  has  a  glimmering,  silky  lustre,  and  a  fibrous  appear- 
ance, discovering  a  wood-like  texture.  It  is  somewhat 
heavier  than  common  charcoal,  and  is  easier  reduced 
to  ashes  before  the  blowpipe,  without  either  flame  'or 
smoke. 

It  occurs  in  thin  layers,  in  brown  coal,  slate  coal,  slaty 
glance  coal,  and  pitch  coal ;  but  in  quantities  too  small 
to  make  separate  use  of. 

PLUMBAGO.       GRAPHITE.* 

Plumbago  is  found  in  England,  Scotland,  France, 
Spain,  Germany,  and  some  other  countries.  Plumba- 
go is  of  a  dark  iron  black,  passing  into  steel  grey. 

It  occurs  in  mass,  in  kidney-shaped  lumps,  or  disse- 
minated, in  rocks.  It  has  a  glistening  metallic  lustre, 
its  fracture  is  granular  and  uneven  ;  it  is  unctuous  to  the 
feel,  soft,  and  not  very  brittle.  When  heated  it  does 
not  flame,  nor  can  it  support  combustion  by  itself.  Its 
specific  gravity  somewhat  exceeds  2. 

Plumbago  seems  to  belong  exclusively  to  primitive 
countries  ;  sometimes  it  enters  into  the  composition  of 
rocks  ;  but  is  more  usually  found  in  detached  masses,  or 
in  beds. 

The  principal  use  of  plumbago  is  in  the  making  of  what 
are  called  black-lead  pencils ;  for  which  purpose  none 
has  yet  been  discovered  equal  to  that  from  Borrowdale  in 
Cumberland,  where  it  occurs  in  a  considerable  moun- 
tain of  argillaceous  schistus,  traversed  by  veins  of  quartz; 

*  A  manufacture  of  black-lead  pencils,  exifts  in  the  city  of  New- York. 
Graphite  with  rofy  quartz,  was  lately  brought  to  me  from  Fiflikill.  SmalJ 
quantities  of  it  are  not  unfrequent.  It  is  found  in  North  Carolina,  Penn- 
(ylvania,  New-Jerfey,  New- York,  Connecticut,  Rhode-Ifland,  Maflachu- 
fetts,  New-Hampftrirc,  and  Maine.  (Cleave/and.) 


TO   MINERALOGY.  233 

some  account  of  the  mine  may  be  found  in  Parkes's 
*  Chemical  Essays.'  An  inferior  kind  is  met  with  in 
several  places  in  France.  It  is  also  found  in  Bavaria, 
in  Spain,  and  in  Norway. 

Whence  this  mineral  obtained  the  name  of  black-lead 
it  is  difficult  to  say,  unless  it  was  from  the  lead-coloured 
streak  which  it  gives  upon  paper.  It  has  been  ascertain- 
ed that  lead  does  not  enter  into  its  composition,  but 
that  the  purest  plumbago  consists  of  about  90  parts  of 
carbon  and  10  of  iron  :  an  impure  variety  affords  more 
of  silex  and  alumine  than  of  carbon  or  iron. 

MINERAL  OIL.* 

: •  >v  '"-•  <  ''' !  -i  i**:  '  •  *'  '4  '*'•  v  '     (   (i  • ' 

Under  this  term  are  comprehended  two  substances, 
Naptha  and  Petroleum  ;  both  of  which  are  liquid,  high- 
ly inflammable,  and  lighter  than  water. 

Naptha  is  nearly  colourless  and  transparent ;  it  burns 
with  a  blue  flame,  much  smoke,  gives  out  a  penetrating 
odour,  and  leaves  no  residuum.  It  appears  to  be  the  on- 
ly fluid  iu  which  oxygen  does  not  exist  in  a  consider- 
able proportion  ;  advantage  has  been  taken  of  this  cir- 
cumstance by  Sir  H.  Davy,  who  employed  it,  for  that  rea- 
son, in  preserving  the  new  metals  discovered  by  him. 

The  most  copious  springs  of  naptha  are  on  the  coast 
of  the  Caspian  sea  in  the  peninsula  of  Apcheron  ;  the 
surrounding  country  is  calcareous,  and  the  soil  which 
affords  the  naptha  is  sandy  and  marly.  It  perpetually 
gives  out  vapours  of  a  penetrating  odour  and  very  in*- 
flammable  :  it  is  said  that  the  people  of  the  country  dress 
their  food  by  means  of  it,  for  which  purpose  they  pass  it 
through  earthen  pipes.  By  distillation  it  yields  naptha 
pure  for  medicine.  The  Persians  employ  the  residuum 
to  burn  in  their  lamps  instead  of  oil.  A  considerable 
revenue  is  derived  from  it  by  the  Chief  of  the  coun- 
try. 

*  Petroleum  is  found  native  in  the  weftern  diftri<a  of  New- York,, 
where  it  is  colle&ed  from  the  furface  of  certain  waters,  and  fold  by  the  name 
of  Seneka  Oil.  It  is  employed  both  inwardly  and  outwardly,  as  a  remedy-; 
and  is  extolled  by  the  people,  for  its  efficacy  againft  difeafes,  more  efpe— 
daily  of  the  ftomach,  inteftines,  kidneys,  fldn,  joints,  &c.  It  is  procured?, 
too,  in  Ohio,  and  rated  by  many  as  a  valuable  medicine, 


234  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION 

Naptha  is  also  found  in  Calabria;  on  Mount  Zibio 
near  Modena  ;  in  Sicily,  and  in  America,  &c.  ;  but  it  is 
supposed  that  travellers  have  sometimes  mistaken  pe- 
troleum for  naptha. 

In  1802,  near  the  village  of  Amiano,  in  the  state  of 
Parma,  a  spring  of  naptha  of  a  topaz  yellow  colour, 
was  discovered,  which  readily  burns  without  leaving  any 
residue  ;  it  rises  in  sufficient  quantity  to  light  up  the  city 
of  Genoa,  for  which  purpose  it  is  employed. 

Petroleum,  at  the  usual  temperature,  is  rather  thicker 
than  common  tar,  has  a  strong  disagreeable  odour,  and 
is  of  a  blackish  or  reddish  brown  colour.  It  is  very 
combustible,  giving  out  during  combustion  a  very  thick 
black  smoke,  and  leaving  very  little  residue  in  the  form 
of  a  black  coal. 

It  is  found  in  many  countries,  principally  in  those  pro- 
ducing coal.  At  several  places  in  France.  In  England,  at 
Ormskirk  in  Lancashire,  and  at  Coalbrookdale  ;  occa- 
sionally in  Cornwall  and  in  Scotland.  It  occurs  also  in 
Bavaria,  Switzerland,  and  in  Italy  near  Parma.  Near 
the  latter  place,  the  Petroleum  gives  out  so  powerful  an 
odour,  that  the  workmen  cannot  long  endure  it  at  the 
bottom  of  the  Petroleum  wells,  without  danger  of  faint- 
ing. It  is  found  in  many  other  parts  of  Europe  and  in 
America. 

It  is  most  plentifully  found  in  Asia  :  round  the  town  of 
Rainanghong  in  the  Birman  empire,  there  are  520  wells 
in  full  activity,  into  which  petroleum  flows  from  over 
coal.  No  water  ever  penetrates  into  these  wells.  The 
quantity  of  petroleum  annually  produced  by  them 
amounts  to  more  than  400,000  hogsheads.  To  the  in- 
habitants, its  uses  are  important ;  from  Moussoul  to  Bag- 
dad it  is  used  instead  of  oil  for  lamps ;  mixed  with  eartli 
Or  ashes,  it  serves  for  fuel 

When  naptha  is  exposed  to  the  air  and  light,  it  be- 
comes brown,  thickens,  and  seems  to  pass  into  petro- 
leum :  and  when  petroleum  is  distilled,  an  oil  is  obtain- 
ed from  it  similar  to  naptha.  When  petroleum  is  expo- 
sed to  the  air,  it  thickens  and  passes  into  a  kind  of  bitu- 
tnen.  Considerable  alliance  is  thus  proved  to  exist  be- 
tween Mineral  Oil  and  Bitumen. 


TO   MINERALOGY.  235 


BITUMEN.^ 

The  elementary  constituents  of  Bitumen  are  carbon 
and  hydrogen,  occasionally  nitrogen,  and  most  probably 
some  oxygen,  which  it  is  supposed,  by  its  action  on  the 
other  principles,  and  in  proportion  to  its  quantity,  tends 
to  form  the  harder  Bitumens. 

Bitumen  is  either  elastic  or  compact. 

Elastic  bitumen  is  of  various  shades  of  brown.  It  has 
a  slightly  bituminous  odour,  and  is  about  the  weight  of 
water.  It  burns  readily  with  a  large  flame  and  much 
smoke,  but  melts  by  a  gentle  heat,  and  is  thereby  con* 
verted  into  a  substance  resembling  petroleum,  or  mal- 
tha, or  asphalt,  according  to  its  previous  consistence. 

Elastic  bitumen  takes  up  the  traces  of  a  pencil  in 
the  same  manner  as  the  Caoutchouc  or  India  rubber, 
whence  it  has  obtained  the  name  of  Mineral  Caout- 
chouc. 

Hitherto  it  has  only  been  found  in  the  Odin  mine, 
near  Castleton  in  Derbyshire,  in  a  secondary  limestone, 
accompanied  by  calcareous  spar,  fluor,  blende,  galena, 
pyrites,  and  asphalt.  Elastic  bitumen  consists  chiefly 
of  bituminous  oil,  hydrogen  gas,  and  charcoal ;  very 
small  proportions  of  other  substances  have  been  detected 
by  analysis. 

Compact  bitumen  is  of  a  brownish-black  colour  ;  one 
variety  may  be  impressed  with  the  nail,  and  is  called 
maltha  ;  another  is  very  brittle,  and  is  called  asphalt. 

*  The  ancient  bricks  of  Babylon,  feveral  of  which  I  have  had  the  beft 
opportunities  to  examine,  have  a  portion  of  bitumen  adhering  to  them.— 
This  is  black,  and  emits  by  burning,  a  fomewhat  aromatic  vapour.  It  ap- 
pears to  have  loft  none  of  its  peculiar  qualities,  during  the  term  of  per- 
haps 3000  or  4000  years,  fmcc  it  was  firft  incorporated  as  a  cement,  in  the 
walls  and  towers  conftrucled  by  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  Shinaar.  The 
fpecimens  I  poflefs,  of  modern  bitumen  from  Bofrah,  or  its  vicinity,  are 
fubftantially  the  fame  with  that  ufed  of  old.  (H.  Austin.} 

Afphaltum  of  St.  Antonio,  at  the  weftern  extremity  of  Cuba,  is  com- 
pact, deep  black,  and  capable  of  fupporting  a  flame,  when  heated  and  fet 
on  fire. 

That  from  Trinidad  ifland  is  not  fo  pure  ;  but  is  dated  to  be  much  more 
abundant. 

Specimens  from  St,  Stephens,  near  the  Alabama  river,  were  fent  me  by 
Mr,  Magoffin. 


236  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

Maltha  is  brownish  black  and  opake  :  it  is  tough,  and 
soft  enough  to  take  an  impression  of  the  nail  :  it  has  a 
strong  disagreeable  odour,  and  is  nearly  twice  as  heavy 
as  water.  It  consists  of  bitumen  mixed  with  about  8  per 
cent,  of  carbon  and  a  little  earth. 

Maltha  is  found  in  France,  at  a  place  called  Puy  de 
la  Pege  ;  where  it  renders  the  soil  so  viscous,  that  it  ad- 
heres strongly  to  the  foot  of  the  traveller.  It  is  also 
found  in  a  mountain  in  Persia,  between  Schiraz  and 
Bender-congo,  where  it  is  called  baumemomie.  It  is 
collected  with  care,  and  sent  to  the  King  of  Persia  as 
being  efficacious  in  the  cure  of  wounds.  It  is  occasion- 
ally used  as  a  pitch,  and  in  certain  varnishes  to  preserve 
iron  from  rust ;  it  is  said  to  enter  into  the  composition 
of  black  sealing  wax. 

Asphalt  is  brownish  black  ;  it  occurs  in  mass,  or  dis- 
seminated, or  stalactitic  ;  it  is  opake,  smooth  and  brittle, 
and  somewhat  unctuous  to  the  touch,  and  gives  out  when 
rubbed  a  slightly  bituminous  odour.  It  is  not  so  heavy 
as  maltha. 

By  combustion,  it  leaves  a  small  quantity  of  ashes.  It 
consists  chiefly  of  bituminous  oil,  hydrogen  gas  and 
charcoal,  but  the  latter  is  in  much  greater  proportion 
than  in  elastic  bitumen  ;  oxide  of  iron,  and  two  or  three 
of  the  earths,  sometimes  constitute  very  small  propor- 
tions of  it. 

It  is  found  in  the  Palatinate ;  in  France  ;  at  Neufcha- 
tel  in  Switzerland  ;  in  large  strata  at  Aolona  in  Albania ; 
and  in  large  pieces  on  the  shores,  or  floating  on  the  sur- 
face, of  the  Asphaltic  lake  in  Judea,  called  the  Dead 
Sea  ;  which  is  said  to  have  obtained  the  latter  name 
from  the  belief  that  the  Asphaltum  caused  the  death  of 
birds  attempting  to  fly  over  it.  It  abounds  in  the  islands 
of  Barbadoes  and  Trinidad  in  the  West  Indies.  In  the 
latter  it  occurs  in  a  vast  stratum,  three  miles  in  circum- 
ference, called  the  Tar-lake  ;  the  thickness  of  which  is 
unknown.  A  gentle  heat  renders  it  ductile,  and  when 
mixed  with  grease  or  common  pitch,  it  is  used  for  pay- 
ing the  bottoms  of  ships,  and  is  supposed  to  protect 
them  from  that  pest  of  the  West  Indian  seas,  the  teredo 
or  borer. 


TO   MINERALOGY.  237 

Asphalt  is  also  employed  as  a  varnish,  and  an  essen- 
tial part  of  the  best  wax,  or  varnish,  for  the  use  of  en- 
gravers. 

Both  varieties  of  Bitumen,  as  well  as  the  Mineral  Oils, 
are  unknown  in  primitive  rocks,  except  in  veins  ;  they 
seem  to  belong  exclusively  to  alluvial  or  primitive  for- 
mations, in  which  they  most  commonly  occur  in  calca- 
reous, or  clayey  soils,  or  in  the  productions  of  volcanoes. 
They  are  said  to  be  mostly  found  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  salt  formations.  Some  have  conceived  that  the  bitu- 
mens and  mineral  oils  have  originated  in  the  destruction 
of  the  multitude  of  animals  and  vegetables  found  in  the 
earth ;  of  which  we  are  every  day  discovering  the  re- 
mains. 

The  ancients  employed  bitumen  in  the  construction 
of  their  buildings  ;  and  it  is  said  that  all  historians  agree 
that  the  bricks  of  which  the  walls  of  Babylon  were  built, 
were  cemented  with  hot  bitumen  ;  which  gave  them 
very  great  solidity.  Bitumen  was  carried  down  by  the 
waters  of  a  river  which  joined  the  Euphrates  ;  it  was  also 
found  in  the  salt  springs  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Baby- 
lon. The  Egyptians  are  also  said  to  have  employed  it 
for  the  embalming  of  bodies  ;  constituting  what  we  now 
call  mummies. 

Bitumen  enters  into  the  composition  of  the  black  in- 
durated marl  or  shale  which  accompanies  common  coal ; 
and  which  is  generally  mixed  with  it  in  variable  propor- 
tions. It  is  likewise  found  in  certain  limestones ;  for 
instance  that  of  Aberthaw,  of  which  bitumen  forms  about 
2  per  cent. 

COAL. 

The  bituminous  substance  called  coal,  though  ranked 
among  minerals  because  its  basis  is  pure  carbon,  is  now 
by  many  believed  to  be  of  vegetable  origin,  because  the 
substance  which  lies  upon  the  coal,  is  always  filled  with 
vegetable  remains ;  as  well  as  because  a  wood-like  ap- 
pearance may  be  traced  through  every  species  of  coal, 
even  the  most  compact. 

Mineralogists  are  not  agreed  in  their  arrangement  of 
this  important  genus  of  mineral  inflammables. 


238  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

Coal  may  be  divided  into  four  species  :  brown  coal, 
black  coal,  cannel  coal,  and  glance  coal. 

BIIOWN  COAL  is  imperfectly  bituminous,  of  a  brown 
colour,  and  of  a  vegetable  texture.  It  may  be  divided 
into  three  varieties  :  Bituminized  wood,  Earthy  Brown 
Coal,  Compact  Brown  Coal,  and  Moor  Coal. 

Bituminized  wood  is  of  a  dark  brown  colour.  Its  ex- 
ternal shape  exactly  resembles  that  of  compressed  trunks 
and  branches  of  trees  ;  its  internal  texture  is  precisely 
that  of  wood,  retaining  not  unfrequently  that  of  the 
bark.  It  is  opake,  soft,  somewhat  flexible,  and  almost 
light  enough  to  float  upon  water.  It  burns  with  a  clear 
flame,  though  with  but  little  heat,  and  gives  out  a  bitu- 
minous odour,  often  mixed  with  that  of  sulphur. 

The  surturbrand  of  Iceland  contains  58  per  cent,  of 
watery  and  volatile  inflammable  matter,  leaving  42  per 
cent,  of  carbonaceous  and  earthy  residue. 

Bituminized  wood  occurs  in  alluvial  land  among  beds 
of  compact  brown  coal ;  sometimes  also  forming  beds  of 
itself.  It  is  also  met  with  in  dispersed  fragments  in  al- 
luvial soil.  It  abounds  in  the  newest  floetz-trap  forma- 
tion, and  forms  masses  in  limestone  and  sandstone  be- 
longing to  the  independent  coal  formation.  In  the  Prus- 
sian amber  mines,  it  forms  the  stratum  immediately 
above  the  amber,  and  nodules  and  stalactites  of  this 
beautiful  substance  are  generally  found  intermixed  with 
it. 

Earthy  Brown  Coal  is  blackish  or  wood  brown,  or 
yellowish  grey  ;  it  occurs  in  mass,  of  a  consistence  be- 
tween solid  and  friable  ;  it  is  without  lustre  ;  soils  the 
fingers  a  little  ;  it  is  very  soft,  falls  easily  to  pieces,  and 
it  is  a  little  heavier  than  water. 

It  readily  takes  fire,  and  burns  with  a  weak  flame  and 
disagreeable  bituminous  odour.  It  contains  15  to  20  per 
cent,  of  earth  and  oxide  of  iron,  the  remainder  being 
water  and  inflammable  matter.  It  often  contains  pyrites, 
and  then  passes  into  alum  earth. 

It  is  found  in  similar  situations  with  bituminized 
wood  :  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Leipsig  it  occurs  in 
beds  from  20  to  40  feet  thick,  and  of  great  extent. 

It  is  used  as  an  inferior  kind  of  fuel,  when  little  heat 
is  required  ;  for  which  purpose  it  is  moistened  with  wa- 


TO  MINERALOGY.  230 

ter,  well  beaten,  and  made  into  masses  like  bricks.  In 
the  vicinity  of  Cologne,  a  variety  is  found  of  a  rich  reddish 
brown  colour,  which  is  prepared  as  a  pigment  under  the 
name  of  Cologne  umber,  which  is  employed  as  a  colour 
both  in  distemper  and  oil  painting.  It  is  also  found  in 
Hesse,  Bohemia,  Saxony,  and  Iceland.  The  Dutch  are 
said  to  employ  it  in  the  adulteration  -of  snuff,  to  which  it 
imparts,  when  used  in  certain  proportion,  a  peculiar 
softness. 

Compact  Brown  Coal,  is  of  a  blackish  brown  colour. 
It  occurs  in  mass  ;  its  fracture  is  fibrous  lamellar  ;  its 
cross  fracture  somewhat  conchoidal  ;  it  has  a  resinous 
lustre,  and  is  moderately  hard.  Its  specific  gravity  is 
about  4.5. 

It  burns  readily  with  a  weak  flame,  and  a  disagreeble 
odour ;  by  combustion,  it  leaves  a  small  quantity  of 
white  ashes  :  200  grains  yield  by  distillation,  90  of  char- 
coal, 60  of  acidulous  water,  21  of  thick,  brown,  oily 
bitumen,  and  29  of  hydrogen,  carburelted  hydrogen, 
and  carbonic  acid. 

In  England,  it  is  found  at  Bovey  near  Exeter,  and  is 
called  Bovey  coal :  at  this  place  there  are  17  strata 
within  the  depth  of  74  feet  from  the  surface,  alternating 
with  alluvial  clay ;  the  greatest  thickness  of  the  seams 
or  beds  is  between  6  and  8  feet.  Brown  coal  is  also 
found  in  various  parts  of  the  territory  of  Hesse,  and  in 
other  parts  of  Germany  ;  also  in  Denmark,  Greenland, 
and  Italy. 

It  is  used  for  fuel :  it  passes  into  bituminous  wood  and 
moor  coal,  and  sometimes  into  pitch  coal. 

Moor  coal  is  of  a  darkish  brown  colour.  It  occurs  in 
mass,  forming  verv  thick  beds,  and  is  always  full  of  cre- 
vices. Internally  it  displays  a  considerably  resinous  lus- 
tre. Its  longitudinal  fracture  is  somewhat  slaty  ;  its  cross 
fracture  approaches  to  conchoidal;  its  fragments  are 
trapezoidal  or  rhomboidal.  In  its  chemical  characters 
it  resembles  the  preceding  variety  of  Brown  coal. 

It  occurs  in  alluvial  land,  and  in  the  newest  floetz-trap 
formation.  It  is  met  with  very  frequently  in  Bohemia  ; 
it  is  also  found  in  Transylvania,  and  other  parts  of  the 
Austrian  dominions  \  also  in  Denmark,  and  the  Ferroe 
islands. 


240  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

BLACK  COAL,  the  SLATE  COAL  of  Mineralogists,  is 
perfectly  bituminous  ;  it  may  be  said  to  comprehend  all 
the  varieties  of  common  coal  used  for  economical  pur- 
poses. It  may  generally  be  said  to  be  of  a  black  colour, 
having  an  irridescent  tarnish,  and  a  high  resinous  lustre. 
It  is  composed  of  about  60  parts  of  carbon,  and  36  of 
maltha  and  asphalt,  and  from  3  to  6  per  cent,  of  earth 
and  oxide  of  iron. 

Slate  coal  is  found  principa"y  in  the  independent  coal 
formation,  and  is  the  most  widely  diffused  of  any  of  the 
species.  It  is  often  mixed  with  pyrites,  and  penetrated 
by  thin  veins  of  quartz  or  calcareous  spar.  It  always 
occurs  in  nearly  horizontal  strata,  which  are  abundant 
in  Durham,  Northumberland,  Yorkshire,  and  in  some 
other  parts  of  England,  and  in  several  parts  of  Europe. 

The  two  points  which  are  principally  to  be  attended 
to  with  regard  to  common  coal,  in  an  economical  point 
of  view,  are  the  intensity  of  heat  and  the  duration  of  com- 
bustion, and  these  are  chiefly  influenced  by  the  propor- 
tion of  asphalt  contained  in  the  coal.  That  in  which 
the  bituminous  part  is  chiefly  maltha,  with  only  a  small 
quantity  of  asphalt,  kindles  very  easily,  burns  briskly  and 
quickly  with  a  bright  blaze,  cakes  but  little,  requires  no 
stirring,  and  by  a  single  combustion  is  reduced  to  loose 
ashes  ;  such  are  the  varieties  of  coal  from  Lancashire, 
Scotland,  and  most  of  those  which  .are  raised  on  the 
western  side  of  England. 

Those  on  the  other  hand,  in  which  asphalt  prevails, 
kindle  difficultly,  and  after  lying  some  time  on  the  fire, 
become  soft,  and  almost  in  a  state  of  semifusion  ;  they 
then  cohere  and  cake,  swell  considerably,  and  throw  out 
on  every  side  tubercular  scoriae,  accompanied  by  bright 
jets  of  flame.  In  consequence  of  the  cohesion  and  tu- 
mefaction of  the  coals,  the  passage  of  the  air  is  inter- 
rupted, the  fire  burns  hollow,  and  would  be  extinguished 
if  the  top  were  not  broken  in  from  time  to  time.  The  pro- 
duce of  ashes  is  smaller  than  in  the  free  burning  coals ; 
the  greater  part  of  them  being  mixed  in  the  carbona- 
ceous part  of  the  coal  and  forming  grey  scorias,  com- 
monly known  by  the  name  of  cinders,  which  being  burnt 
again  with  fresh  fuel,  give  out  an  intense  heat,  and  are 
slowly  reduced,  partly  to  heavy  ashes,  partly  to  slag.  The 


TO    MINER ALOG IT,  241 

best  coal  of  Northumberland,  Durham,  and  Yorkshire, 
is  of  this  kind  ;  it  burns  slower,  and  gives  out  more  heat 
than  the  preceding,  and  in  general  bears  a  higher  price. 

Cannel  Coal  or  Candle  Coal,  is  of  a  greyish  black  co- 
lour, and  has  a  glistening  resinous  lustre.  Its  fracture  is 
cpnchoidal.  It  is  brittle,  but  is  the  most  difficultly  fran- 
gible of  all  the  coals,  and  is  somewhat  heavier  than  jet. 
It  is  very  inflammable,  and  burns  quickly,  but  does  not 
cake,  and  leaves  behind  3  or  4  per  cent  of  ashes. 

It  occurs  in  the  independent  coal  formation.  It  is 
found  in  great  plenty  and  remarkably  pure,  at  Wigan  in 
Lancashire,  and  occasionally  in  most  other  English 
collieries. 

Its  chief  use  is  as  fuel,  but  the  purest  from  Wigan  may 
be  worked  in  the  turning  lathe,  from  which  it  receives 
a  high  polish  ;  hence  it  is  shaped  into  various  ornamen- 
tal utensils  ;  and  when  cut  into  beads,  is  not  to  be  dis- 
tinguished from  jet. 

The  Splent  Coal,  which  abounds  at  Glimerton,  near 
Edinburgh,  is  considered  to  be  an  inferior  variety  of 
cannel  coal. 

Glance  CoaL  Of  this  there  are  three  varieties,  the 
conchoidal,  the  columnar,  and  the  slaty. 

Conchoidal  Glance  Coal  is  iron  black ;  it  occurs  in 
mass,  with  a  bright  shining  metallic  lustre  and  a  perfect- 
ly conchoidal  fracture.  It  is  moderately  hard,  frangible, 
and  light. 

It  burns  without  flame  or  smell,  and  leaves  a  white 
ash.  It  is  of  rare  occurrence,  having  been  met  with 
only  at  Newcastle  and  in  the  Meissner  at  Hesse.  That 
from  the  latter  place  has  been  analyzed,  and  contains 
nearly  97  of  charcoal,  2  of  alumine,  and  1  of  oxide  of 
iron. 

Columnar  Glance  Coal  is  of  a  dark  greyish  black ;  it 
occurs  in  mass  and  possesses  a  shining  lustre,  between 
resinous  and  metallic.  Its  fracture  is  not  perfectly  con- 
choidal ;  is  very  soft,  frangible,  and  light,  and  always 
occurs  in  thick,  curved,  parallel,  columnar,  distinct  con- 
cretions, having  smooth  glimmering  surfaces. 

It  burns  without  flame  or  smell,  leaving  a  greyish  white 
ash.  It  has  hitherto  only  been  found  at  the  Meissreria 

X 


ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

Hesse,  where  it  occurs,  together  with  other  coal,  in  the 
newest  flcetz-trap  formation. 

Slaty  Glance  Coal,  Anthracite,  Kilkenny  Coaly  or 
Welch  Culm,  is  a  dark  iron  black  colour,  verging  on 
steel  grey  ;  it  occurs  in  mass ;  has  a  bright  metallic 
lustre  ;  its  fracture  is  somewhat  slaty  and  curved  in  one 
direction,  and  somewhat  conchoidal  in  the  other ;  it 
breaks  easily,  and  is  but  little  heavier  than  water. 

When  pulverized  and  heated,  it  becomes  red  and 
slowly  consumes  with  a  very  light  lambent  flame,  with- 
out smoke,  and  when  pure  emits  no  sulphureous  or  bitu- 
minous odour ;  it  leaves  a  variable  proportion  of  reddish 
ashes. 

The  Kilkenny  coal  is  somewhat  harder  than  is  cus- 
tomary with  this  variety. 

Slaty  Glance  coal  consists  of  carbon,  with  from  3  to 
30  per  cent,  of  earth  and  iron. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  imbedded  masses,  beds,  or 
veins,  in  primitive,  transition,  and  floetz  rocks.  It  is 
found  in  gneiss,  in  micaceous  schistus,  in  mineral  veins, 
with  calcareous  spar,  native  silver,  mineral  pilch,  arid 
red  iron  ore ;  and  has  been  discovered  by  Jameson  in 
the  independent  coal  formation  in  the  isle  of  Arraq. 

•->•     JET.      PITCH  COAL.* 

Jet  is  generally  of  a  velvet  black  ;  it  occurs  in  mas?, 
and  sometimes  in  the  shapes  of  branches,  with  a  regular 
woody  structure,  it  has  a  brilliant,  resinous  lustre,  and 
a  perfectly  conchoidal  fracture  :  it  is  soft  and  brittle, 
and  is  but  little  heavier  than  water. 

It  burns  with  a  greenish  flame  and  a  strong  bitu- 

*  Coal  is  faid  to  exift  abundantly  near  Cape  Breton,  and  in  the  N.  E, 
part  of  Nova  Scotia. 

The  coal  of  Rhode-lfland  is  mingled  with  quartz,  and  occafionally  with 
fibrous  afbeftos.  Yet  it  has  but  little  hydrogen,  and  Ids  bitumen  It  is 
overlaid  by  coarfe  fhale,  containing  numerous  and  flrong  impreflions  of 
ferns. 

The  indications  of  coal  along  Connecticut  river,  have  raifed  high  expec- 
tations, even  in  the  minds  of  miners  and  geologifts.  But  the  digging, 
boring  and  fearching,  have  not  hitherto  difclofed  any  thing  very  confide- 
rable.  Tht  fmall  famples  I  have  feen,  abound  in  bitumen,  and  icem  to 
be  fufficiently  inflammable.  It  has  been  fuppofed  that  the  bituminous 


TO  MINERALOGY.  243 

minous  smell,  leaving  a  yellowish  ash.  It  occurs  princi- 
pally in  marly,  schistose,  calcareous,  or  sandy  beds. 

It  is  met  with  in  several  places  in  France  :  where  it  is 
sometimes  found  enclosing  amber.  In  one  place  it  oc- 
curs in  oblique  beds,  at  a  considerable  depth,  between 
beds  of  sandstone.  It  is  likewise  found  near  Wettem- 
berg  in  Saxony,  and  in  several  places  in  Spain.  It  oc- 
curs in  the  Prussian  amber  mines  in  detached  fragments, 
and  is  there  called  black  amber. 

In  France,  Germany,  and  Spain,  it  is  worked  into  va- 
rious trinkets,  chiefly  worn  as  part  of  the  mourning  habit; 
but  when  not  sufficiently  fine  and  hard  for  that  purpose, 
it  is  used  as  fuel. 


AMBER. 

'.  VvX    ;  * 

Is  a  mineral  of  a  yellow  or- reddish'  brown,  or  of  a 
greenish  or  yellowish"  white  colour.  It  is  found  in  no- 

fchiftus  which  contains  th   figures  of  fifties,  overlays  co2ff  and  the  con- 
jecture carries  great  weight. 

The  coal  around  New-York,  as  on  Lnng-Tfland  and  Staten-Ifland,  for 
example,  confifts  moftly  of  carbonized  or  vitriolated  wood.  The  speci- 
mens of  coal  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Newark,  Mi4dletown.  and  feme, 
other  places,  though  they  afford  indications  of  bitumen,  are  too  fcanty  to 
be  of  any  economical  ufe. 

In  Pennfylvania,  there  are  two  great  coal  formations ;  one  fituated  S.E» 
of  the  mountains,  and  the  other  N.W.  The  former  is  the  glance  coal,  ex- 
tending almoft  from  Delaware  along  the  head  waters  of  the  Lehigh  and 
Schuylkiil,  and  to  Wilkefbarre  on  the  Sufquehannah,  and  along  the  Junia- 
ta.  The  latter  abounds  at  Pit*  (burgh,  and  in  the  adjoining  lands  along  the 
Allegheny  and  Monongahela  riven.,  as  well  as  extenfively  on  both  fides 
of  ihe  Ohio.  (Darby.} 

A  confiderahle  body  of  coal  exifts  on  the  fouth  fide  of  James  river,  in 
Virginia.  This  is  extenfively  in  ufe  for  fuel,  and  tranfported  to  dmant 
places,  coaftwife.  It  refts  upon  a  primitive  bottom,  and  is  overlaid  by 
ihale,  containing  vegetable  impreffions.  (Maclure.) 

*  Amber  has  been  found  near  Crofwick's  Creek,  a  few  miles  from 
Trenton.  There  are  two  varieties,  the  white  and  the  yellow.  Of  the  lat- 
ter, I  have  a  fpecimen  from  General  Wilfon,  about  two  inches  long,  and 
an  inch  broad  ;  a  part  of  a  larger  mafs.  It  has  a  granular  or  cryftaJline 
conftitution  internally  ;  and  appears  externally,  as  if  it  had  been  moulded 
«r  figured  by  the  contact  of  wood.  There  vcz fragments  offtells  connected 
with  it.  Thefe  are  probably  marine,  as  a  belemnite  was  brought  along, 
the  better  to  (how  the  locality.  1  his  amber  lies  in  the  alluvial  foil,  reft- 
ing  upon  carbonated  wood,  fcattered  in  grains  through  ihell-marl,  and 
minglt-d  with  decompofmg  pyrites.  Though  after  friction  it  readily  at- 
tracts light  fubftances,  it  is  not  fine  and  tranfparent  enough  for  ornamen- 
tal purpofes. 


244  ELEMENTARY    INTRODUCTION 

dules  or  rounded  masses,  from  the  size  of  coarse  sand  U 
that  of  a  man's  head. 

It  is  sometimes  transparent,  always  translucent,  and 
occasionally  encloses  insects  of  the  ant  species,  in  re- 
markable preservation.  It  is  somewhat  heavier  than 
water.  The  strong  electric  powers  of  amber  are  gene- 
rally known.  This  property  gave  rise  to  the  science  of 
electricity,  which  was  so  called  from  HAEKT^V  (Electron) 
the  Greek  name  for  amber.  It  seems  to  belong  exclu- 
sively to  countries  of  late  formation. 

In  Greenland,  Kamschatka,  and  Moravia,  it  is  found 
in  grains  disseminated  through  coal.  It  also  occurs  on 
the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  of  Sicily,  and  of  the  Adriatic 
sea ;  in  Poland,  France,  Italy,  and  many  other  coun- 
tries ;  and  occasionally  in  the  beds  of  gravel  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  London,  and  on  the  coast  of  Norfolk 
and  of  Suffolk.  Near  the  sea  coast  in  Prussia,  there  are 
regular  mines  of  amber  :  under  a  stratum  of  sand  and 
clay  about  20  feet  thick,  succeeds  a  stratum  of  trees  40 
or  50  feet  tbick,  half  decomposed,  impregnated  with  py- 
rites and  bitumen,  and  of  a  blackish  brown  colour. 
Parts  of  these  trees  are  impregnated  with  amber,  which 
sometimes  is  found  in  stalactites  depending  from  them. 
Under  the  stratum  of  trees  were  found  pyrites,  sulphate 
of  iron  and  coarse  sand,  in  which  were  rounded  masses 
of  amber.  The  mine  is  worked  to  the  depth  of  JOO 
feet,  and  from  the  circumstances  in  which  the  amber  is 
found,  it  seems  plain  that  it  originates  from  vegetable 
juices. 

The  real  nature  and  origin  of  amber  are  not  under- 
stood :  it  is  generally  considered  to  be  a  fossil  resin, 
somewhat  mineralized.  It  yields  by  distillation  an  acid, 
called  the  succinlc  acid,  (succinum  being  the  Latin  for 
amber)  and  leaves  as  the  residue,  an  extremely  black, 
shining  coal,  which  is  employed  as  the  basis  of  the  finest 
black  varnishes.  When  exposed  to  flame  in  the  open 
air,  amber  takes  fire  and  burns  with  a  yellowish  flame, 
giving  out  a  dense,  pungent^  aromatic  smoke,  and  leav- 
ing a  light,  shining,  black  coal. 


TO    MINERALOGY. 


MF.LL1TE.       HONETSTONE. 


The  MelJite  is  a  rare  mineral,  having  hitherto  only 
been  found  in  Thuringia,  in  the  district  of  Saal,  and  m 
Switzerland.  It  occurs  on  bituminous  wood,  and  earthy 
coal,  and  is  generally  accompanied  by  sulphur.  In 
Switzerland  it  is  accompanied  by  asphaltum. 

The  honeystone  is  softer  than  amber,  is  transparent, 
brittle,  and  electric  ;  possesses  a  double  refraction,  and 
is  found  crystallized  in  the  octohedron. 

When  burnt  in  the  open  air,  neither  smoke  nor  flame 
are  observable,  and  it  eventually  acquires  the  colour  and 
consistence  of  chalk.  The  Mellite  is  composed  of  84 
parts  of  mellitic  acid,  about  14  of  alurnine,  2  of  silex, 
anil  some  iron.  Its  composition  differs  essentially  from 
that  of  every  other  combustible  mineral. 


RETINASPHALT. 


Retinasphalt  has  been  found  at  Bovey  Tracey  in  De- 
vonshire, adhering  to  brown  coal  in  the  form  of  irregu- 
lar opake  lumps  of  a  pale  brownish  yellow  colour,  with 
a  glistening  lustre  and  imperfect  conchoidal  fracture-  It 
is  very  brittle  and  soft,  and  somewhat  heavier  than  wa- 
ter. When  placed  on  a  hot  iron,  it  rnelts,  smokes,  and 
burns  with  a  bright  flame,  giving  out  a  fragrant  odour  ; 
it  consists  of  55  parts  of  resin,  42  of  asphalt,  and  3  of 
earth. 

FOSSIL  COPAL.*     HIGHGATE  R£SIN. 

Fossil  Copal  or  Highgate  Resin  was  found  in  con- 
siderable quantity  in  the  bed  of  blue  clay  of  which 

*  I  have  received  Foflil  Copal  from  Jucatan,  whence  it  is  fometimes> 
brought  to  New-  York.  The  mafles  are  as  large  occafionally  as  a  man's- 
fift,  of  a  yellowifh  tranfparency  and  a  refinous  fracture.  It  is  ufually  dug-; 
out  of  the  ground,  and  feems  occafionally  to  be  wafhed  from  the  upland! 
into  the  fea  ;  for  navigators  have  obferved  cepal  to  be  raifed  from  the  boo- 
torn,  with  the  mud  that  adheres  to  their  anchors. 

x  a 


246  ELEMENTARY  INTRODUCTION,    &C. 

Highgate  Hill  near  London,  in  great  measure  consists. 
It  is  in  irregular  roundish  pieces  of  a  light  yellowish 
dirty  brown  colour,  sometimes  transparent  and  with  a 
resinous  lustre  ;  it  is  brittle,  yields  easily  to  the  knife, 
and  is  but  little  heavier  than  water.  It  gives  out  a 
resinous  aromatic  odour  when  heated,  and  melts  into 
a  limpid  fluid;  when  applied  to  the  flame  of  a  can^ 
die  it  takes  fire,  and  before  the  blow-pipe  burns  away 
entirely, 


INDEX. 


Aberthaw  Limeftone,                107 

Analcitne 

'54 

Acanticonite                                    27 

Anatafe 

169 

ACCESSARY  CONSTITUENTS 

Andalufite  ' 

8a 

OF  MINERALS                     vi 

Anhydrite 

in 

ACIDS                                           x 

Anhydrous  Gypfuni 

III 

relative  ages  oft  as  Mineral 

Anthophyllite 

33 

Constituents^                                      x 

ANTIMONY 

209 

Actinolite                                      40 

native 

209 

Adamantine  fpar                           74 

grey 

2IO 

Adularia                                        47 

fulphuret  of 

210 

./Elites                                          156 

red 

110 

Agate                                             ii 

white 

2IO 

ribbon                           iz  74 

oxide  of 

210 

ruin                                     12 

Antimonial  ochre 

211 

Agalmatolite                                  50 
Agaric  Mineral                              94 
Alabafter                                      113 

filver 
Anthracite 
Apatite 

1  86 
24* 
108 

oriental                       93 

Aphrite 

94 

ALKALIES                             xyii 

Aplome 

27 

analysts  of                xviii 

Aquam-Sne 

126 

as  Mineral  Consti- 

ARGU, 

tuents                    xviii 

Argillaceous  substances 

73 

ALKALINE  MINERALS      135 

rocks 

73 

Allanite                                          171 

odour 

73 

Alloy  of  Indium  and  Olmium    206 
Allochroite                                     30 

fchiftus 
Iron-ftone 

75 
156 

Almandine                                     13 
ruby                           86 

Argillo-ferruginous  limeftone 
Arragonite 

107 

IO2 

Alluvial  clay                                  24 

Arfenic 

177 

Alum                                             86 

native 

178 

earth                                   87 

oxide  of 

17* 

Hone                                   87 

fulphuret  of 

178 

ilate                                   88 

Arfenical  pyrites 

179 

ALUMINE                                 78 

cobalt 

181 

fubfulphate  of               86 

antimonial  filve? 

186 

fulphate  of                    86 

Arfeniate  of  iron 

1  60 

ALUMIUM                               73 

copper 

198 

Amalgam,  native                        223 

lead 

217 

filver                             323 

Afbeftus 

34 

Amazonian-done                          59 

ligniform 

35 

Amber                                         243 

common 

36 

Amethyft                                         3 

Afteria 

75 

oriental                         75 

Afparagus-ftone 

109 

Amianthus                                     3J 

Avanturine 

4 

AMMONIA                               145 

Augite 

37 

fulphate  of                   145 

Automalite 

79 

muriate  of                   -145 

Aurum  graphicum 

208' 

Amygdaloid                                69 

Axc-ftone 

5$ 

INDEX, 


Axinite 

29  1  Briftol  diamonds 

Azurite 

81 

Brittle  fulphuret  of  filver 

filver  glance 

Baikalite 

3^ 

Bronzite 

Balas  Ruby 

85 

Brown  coal 

BARIUM 

129 

earthy 

Barytes 

129 

compact 

carbonate  of 

130 

iron-  ore 

fulphate  of 

iron-ochre 

Bafalt 

*64 

fpar 

Bafakic  hornblende 
Bafanite 
Beilftein 

36 

7» 
59 

volcanic  hyacinth 
Cacholong 
Calcareous  fpar 

Bell-metal-ore 

1  66  CALCIUM" 

Beryl 

126 

Calc-finter 

BISMUTH 

*75 

Calamine 

native 

176 

eledric 

fulphuret  of 

176 

Calp 

ochre 

177 

Cannel  coal 

oxide  of 

177 

CARBON 

Bifmuthic  filver 

188 

mineral 

Biftre 

23 

Carbonate  of  barytes 

Bitterfpar 

104 

copper 

Bitumen 

235 

lead 

elaftic 

215 

lime 

compact 

"235 

magnefia 

Bituminized  wood 

238 

potafh 

Bituminous  cinnabar 

324 

filver 

limeftonc 

99 

foda 

Black  chalk 

13 

ftrontian 

coal 

240 

zinc 

copper 

Carbuncle 

iron-  ore 

*5? 

Carnelian 

filver 

188 

Carrara  marble 

lead 

*33 

Cat's-  eye 

Black-wad 

162 

Cawk 

Blende 

2*19 

Celeftine 

Blood-  ftone 

12 

Cerin 

Blue  carbonate  of  copper 

I96 

Cerite 

felfpar 

82 

CERIUM 

iron-ore 

158 

Chabafie 

lead  -ore 

Chalcedony 

fpinelle 

53  81 

Chalk 

Bog  iron-ore 

black 

Bolognian-ftone 

132 

red 

Bole 

33 

Chert 

, 

armemc 

Chiaftolite 

brown 

23 

CHLORINE 

red 

Chlorite 

yellotr 

*3 

common 

Boracitc 

122 

fcaly 

Borate  of  magnefia 

123 

flate 

foda 

X4I 

Chlorophane 

BORON 

xiii  CHROME 

Botryolite 

2  1  6  (Chroma  te  of  iron 

Bright  white-  cobalt 

llftj                        lead 

INDEX. 


Chryfoberyll 

79 

COPPER,  carbonate  of               196 

Chryfocolla 

196 

emerald                        197 

Chryfolite 

109  118 

fahlerz                          193 

opalefcent 

79 

glance                           192 

oriental 

75  79 

grey                               193 

of  Vefuvius 

20 

martial  arfeniate  of     200 

Chryfoprafe 

t 

muriate  of                    197 

Cimolite 

12 

native                           191 

Cinnabar 

224 

nickel                            183 

hepatic 

22^ 

pyrites                          194 

bituminous 
Cinnamonftone 

22; 
22 

purple                          195 
phofphate  of                198 

Clay 

24 

red  oxide  of                 195 

alluvial 

.        5^ 

ruby                             195 

fire 

2< 

fulphate  of                   197 

indurated 

26 

fulphuret  of                 19* 

iron 

69 

white                            194 

iron-ftone 

156 

yellow                          194 

pipe 

»5 

Sornifh  diamonds                              3 

potter's 

Corundum                                        74 

porcelain 

*5 

3ottam  marble                                97 

flate 

62 

Crofs-ftone                                       34 

Clinkftone 

56 

Cryolite                                            88 

Coal 

Cubic  Zeolite                                  54 

black 

240 

Cupreous  arfeniate  of  iron            200 

brown 

238 

Cyanite                                            77 

earthy 

238 

compact 

Datholite                                      116 

cannel 

241 

Diamond                                        229 

glance 

241 

Diafpore                                           78 

columnar 

241 

Dioptafe                                           197 

conchoid*] 

241 

Dipyre                                                17 

flaty 

242 

Dolomite                                        105 

Kilkenny 

242 

Double-  refracting-  fpar                   9* 

Kimmeridge 

70 

)rawing-flate                                  13 

moor 

%  ^Q 

pitch 
flate 

242 
240 

EARTHS                                     xiv 
analysis  of  the                   XV 

fplent 

241 

as  mineral  constituents     XV 

COBALT 

180 

r  dative  ages  of  the         XVI 

arfenical 

181 

bright  white 

181  Earthy  cobalt                                 182 

earthy 

182 

Egyptian  jafpcr                               31 

grey 
red 

181 
182 

pebble                             31 
Eifenkeifel                                           6 

fulphate  of 

182 

Eifenthon                                         69 

Coecolite 

38 

Elaftic  bitumen                              235 

Colophonite 

41 

Electric  calamine                            221 

COMBUSTIBLES 

xxiv 

ELEMENTS  OF  MINERALS  vi 

CO  MBUSTIBLE  MINERALS  225 

Emerald                                         127 

Common  limeftone 
Compact  limeftone 

97 
97 

copper                            197 
oriental                             75 

bitumen 

Emery                                              76 

COPPER 

189 

Epidote                                            27 

arfeniate 

198 

Epfom  falts                                   122 

black 

195  Euclafe                                        125 

INDEX. 


EXPLANATIONS  OF  TERMS 

Sritftone 

[xxvii 

Jypfum 

Fahlerz 

193 

anhydrous 

Falfe  Topazes 

13 

earthy 

Felfpar 

47 

plumofe 

blue 

8z 

common 

48 

laematites  red 

compact 

48 

brown 

glafly 

49 

black 

green 

48 

larmotome 

Labradore 

49 

•lauyne 

lamellar 

48 

ieavy-fpar 

tough 

59 

columnar 

Fettftein 

57 

granular 

Fibrolite  : 

76 

ieliotrope 

Fire  clay 

26 

iepatic  Cinnabar 

marble 

97 

lepatite 

Fiflveye  ftone 

45 

iighgate  Refin 

Flint 

9 

loiiey  ftone 

ferruginous 

9 

iorn  ftone 

Flinty  flatc 

71 

iorn  filver 

Flos  Ferri 

104 

quickfilver 

Fluate  of  lime 

109 

lyacinth 

Fluor 

109 

"*',       brown  volcanic 

FlA'ORINE 

xii 

of  Compoftella 

Foflil  copal 

345 

iyalite 

Fuller's  Earth 

63 

riydrargillite 

HYDROGEN 

Gabronite 

62 

i-lydrophane 

Gadolinite 

1*9 

Hyperfthene 

Gahnite 

79 

Galena 

ftI2 

Iceland  fpar 

Garnet 

ai 

xhthyophthalmite 

noble  or  precious 

Xj 

!docrafe 

Glance  coal 

441 

[ndicolite 

columnar 

241 

Indurated  clay 

conchoidal 

241 

flatc 

flat/ 

talc 

<  copper 

19* 

IRIDIUM 

Glauberite 

"5 

[RON 

GLUCINE 

arfeniate  of 

GLUCINUM 

*2J 

chromate  of 

GOLD      . 

loo 

clay 

native 

aoi 

cupreous  arfeniate  of 

Graphite 

232 

glance 

Granular  limeftone 

94 

native 

Graphic  tellurium 

ao8 

meteoric 

Green  earth 

4( 

ochre 

felfpar 

48 

ore,  blue 

vitriol 

bog 

carbonate  of  copper 
Grenatite 

196 
78 

black- 
haematites 

©rey  antimony 
cobalt 

aio 
18 

brown 
haematites 

A^»#    copper 

19' 

magnetic 

tnanganefe 

16 

pea 

INDEX. 


Iron  ore  pifiform 

J57 

Jme,  tungftate  of 

167 

red 

152 

jimeftone 

90 

haematites 

153 

Aberthaw 

107 

phofphated 

158 

bituminous 

99 

pyrites 

3  cQ 

common 

97 

fpathofe 
iulphate 

158 
159 

compact, 
granular 

97 
94 

fulphuret  of 

150 

magnefian 

106 

tungftate  of 

167 

primitive 

94 

Iferine 

170 

Jthomarga 

Lithographic  art 

108 

Jade 

58 

!,oam 

24 

common 

58 

L,umachelli  marble 

97 

Jargoon 

124 

L,ychnites 

95 

Jargoon  of  Ceylon 

124 

Madreporite 

101 

Jafper 

ii 

MAGNESIA 

117 

oriental 

12 

borate  of 

122 

ribbon 

12 

carbonate  of 

12O 

Jenite 

14 

native              117 

121 

Jet 
JewVhoufe  tin 

242 
164 

fulphate  of 
Magnefian  limeftone 

121 
106 

Magnefite 

120 

Kaolin 

26  49 

MAGNESIUM 

117 

Kilkenny  coal 
Kiilas 

242 
62 

Magnetic  iron  ore 
Malachite 

196 

Kimmeridge  coal 

70 

MANGANESE 

161 

Koupholite 

19 

grey 

161 

Kuplernickel 

183 

phofphate  of 

163 

fulphuret  of 

162 

Labradore  Felfpar 

49 

white 

16* 

Lapis  Lazuli 

Marble,  Carrara 

95 

Latialite 

53 

cottam 

97 

Laumonite 

16 

fire 

97 

Lava 

j, 

lumachelli 

97 

Lazulite 

81 

(lychnites) 

95 

LEAD 

21 

of  Luni 

95 

arfeniate  of 

21 

Parian 

95 

carbonate  of 

21, 

(Pentelicus) 

95 

chromate  of 

21 

ruin 

97 

mo  ly  bate  of 

21 

ftutuary 

94 

muriate  of 

21 

verd  antique 

97 

ore,  blue 

21 

Marekanite 

52 

phofphate  of 

21 

Marl 

102 

fulphate  of 
fulphuret  of 

21 
21 

Martial  arfeniate  of  copper 
Meerfchaum 

200 
32 

triple  fulphuret  of 

21 

Meionite 

80 

Lepidolite 

5 

Melanite 

26 

Leucite 

4 

MclJite 

245 

Lias 

IO 

Mcllitic  acid 

XIV 

Lilalite 

5 

Melilite 

68 

LIME 

8S 

Menaccanite 

170 

carbonate  of 

9C 

>  Menilite 

8 

fluare  ot 

109  MERCURY 

222 

nun.e  of 

115  Mcfotype 

43 

phofphate  of 
iulphate  of 

108   MetalliferiMU  ore,  description  of 

II2<  METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS 

XX 

INDEX. 


METALS 

xvii 

i  Nitre 

u                  comparative  ages  of  the    XX 

NITROGEN 

comparative   vieiu 

of 

Noble  opal 

the 

XXI 

Meteoric  iren 

149 

Obfidian 

Mica 

42 

Ochre 

Miemite 

104 

red 

MINERAL  ELEMENTS 

V 

Octohedrite 

Mineral  caoutchouc 

335 

Olivin 

oil 

333 

Onyx 

Mifpickel 

179 

eye 

Mocha-ftone 

ii 

Oolite 

Molybdate  of  lead 

218 

Opal 

MOLYBDENA 

163 

common 

sulphuret  of 

163 

ferruginous 

Moon-ftone 
Moor-  coal                     4 

48 

jafper 
noble 

Mountain  cork 

35 

femi 

leather 

35 

wood 

wood 
Muller's  glafs 

Dpalefcent  chryfolite 
Oriental  alabafter 

Muriacite 
Muriate  of  ammonia 

in 

145 

atnethyft 
chryfolite 

sr 

197 
216 

emerald 
jafper 

filver 

188 

ruby 

foda 

142 

topaz 

Mufcovy  glafs 

42 

Orpiment 
OSMIUM 

Nacrite 

49 

Oxide  of  antimony 

Naptha 

arfenic 

Native  amalgam 

223 

bifmuth 

antimony, 

209 

copper 

arfenic 

178 

tin 

bifmuth 

176 

OXYGEN 

copper 

181 

gold 

201 

Parian  marble 

iron 

148 

PALLADIUM 

magnefia                   117  121 

native 

NATIVE  METALS,  &c. 

147 

Pea  iron-ore 

meteoric  iron 

149 

Pea-ftone 

minium 

214 

Pearlftone 

palladium 

207 

Pearlfpar 

platina 

204 

Petroleum 

quickfilver 

323 

Petuntze 

filver 

185 

Pharmacolite 

fulphur 

227 

Phofphate  of  copper 

tellurium 

207 

iron 

Natrolite 

44 

lead 

Natron 

140 

lime 

Nickel 

183 

manganefe 

copper 

183 

PHOSPHORUS 

ochre 

184 

Pierre  a  batir 

Nigrine 

169 

de  tnppes 

Nitrate  of  lime 

"5 

Finite 

potato 

137  Pipe  clay 

95 

206 
[207 
157 

TOO 

50 

105 

*34 
48 
116 
198 
158 
216 
108 
163 

XI 

99 
JtZ 

77 


INDEX. 


Pifiform  iron  ore 

157 

Red  haematites  iron-ore 

Pifolile 

100 

iron  -ore 

Pitch-  blende 

173 

ochre 

Pitchftone 

55 

fchori 

of  Menil-moutant 

8 

filver 

Plafma 

11 

vitriol 

PLATINA 

aca 

Meddle 

native 

20J 

•'  etinafphalt 

Pleonafte 

to 

RHODIUM 

Plumbago 

232 

-<  ibbon  agate 

Plumhiferous  tellurium 

208 

jaiper 

Porcelain  clay 

25 

loe-ftone 

Porcellanite 

26 

*ock-falt 

POTASH 

135 

,£ottenflone 

carbonate  of 

136 

:iubellite 

nitrate  of 

137 

.•!  ubicelle 

POTASSIUM 

135 

Ruby,  almandine 

Potftone 

39 

balas 

Potter's  clay 
Prafe 

25 
4 

oriental 
fpinelle 

Prehnite 

18 

copper 

Pumice 

44 

filver 

Purple  copper 

193 

Ruin  agate 

Pycnite 

85 

Rutil 

Pyrites,  arfenical 

179 

Rutillite 

common 

1  ci 

copper 

194 

Sahlite 

iron 

150 

Sal  ammoniac 

magnetic 

151 

Saline  minerals 

tin 

166 

Salt,  common 

white 

15  * 

rock 

Pyrope 

39 

fprings 

Pyrophyfolite 
Pyroxene 

84 

37 

Saltpetre 
Sandftone 

Sanidin 

Quartz 
compacH 
cryftaBized 

a 
4 

2 

Sapphire 
Sapphirin 
Sappare 

fat 

5 

Sarcolite 

ferruginous 

6 

Sard 

fibrous 

4 

Sardonyx 

granular 

4 

Satin  fpar 

milk 

5 

Sauffurite, 

pfeudomorphous 

5 

Scaly  talc 

rofe 

5 

chloride 

fpongiform 

5 

Scapolite 

QUICKSILVER 

22Z 

Scheelin 

horn 

224 

Schiefer  fpar 

native 

223 

Schiller  fpar 

Schorl 

Realgar 

178 

red 

Red  antimony 

210 

violet 

bole 
chalk                                 23 
cobalt 

154 

182 

Schorlaceous  beryl 
Scotch  pebble 
Selenite 

copper 

*95  Semi-opal 

154 
154 
154 

169 


3  T54 

245 

20$ 

12  7* 

12  7* 

100 

14* 

77 

I 

86 
86 

75 

85 

195 

187 

12 

l69 

170 

38 

145 

X 

142 
142 
143 
J37 
7 

49 
75 
53 
77 


12 

93 

59 
49 
60 

58 
167 

93 
37 
61 

44  169 

3© 

«5 

12 

112 


Serpentine 

119  Spodumeof 

47 

common 

120' 

Stalagamite 

93 

noble 

120 

Star-done 

75 

primitive 

I2CK 

Stangenfpath 

Shale 

69- 

•Staurolite 

78 

*  bituminous 

70 

Statuary  marble 

94 

brown  bituminous 

7©' 

Steatite 

15 

Siberite 

44 

Stilbite 

17 

SILEX 

I 

Stinkftone 

99 

Siliceous  fchiftas 

71 

Stourbridge  clay 

26 

earth 

I 

Striped  jafper 

13   7t 

S1LICIUM 

I 

STRONTIAN 

j-r* 

SILVER 

184 

carbonate  of 

x'33 

Amalgam 
antimonial 

223, 

IS 

fulphate  of 
Strontianite 

134 

133 

bifmuthic 

188 

STRONTIUM 

133 

black 

188 

Subfulphate  of  alumine 

86 

brittle  fulphurejt  of 
carbonate  of 

187 
188 

Succinic  acid 
Sulphate  of  alumine 

xiii 
86 

glance 

187 

ammonia 

145 

horn 

188 

barytes 

*3r 

muriate  of 

188 

cobalt 

182 

cative 

185 

copper 

197 

red 

187 

iron 

159 

ruby 

lead 

fulphuret  of 

186 

lime 

112 

vitreous 

1-86 

magnefia 

X2X 

white 

187 

foda 

141 

Sfate-clay 

69 

ftrontian 

134 

coal 

24° 

zinc 

221 

flinty 

71 

SULPHUR                        xxvi  22.? 

indurated 

native 

227 

fpar 

93 

volcanic 

229 

Smaragdite 

40 

Sulphnret  of  antimony 

210 

Soap-ftone 

59 

arfenic 

I78 

S.ODA 

138 

bifmuth 

176 

borate  of 

141 

copper 

192 

carbonate  of 

139 

iron 

150 

muriate  of 

lead 

212 

fulpbate  of 
Sodalite 

14* 

manganefe 
molybdena  - 

l62 
163 

SQDIU1S/I 

138 

filvcr 

186 

Spmmite 

80 

tin 

166 

Spar,  calcareous 

90 

zinc 

210 

double  refracting 

92 

Surturbrand 

238 

Iceland 

92 

Swimming-ftone 

5 

fatin 

93 

Swine-ftone 

99 

fchiefer 

93 

flate 

93 

TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

XXV 

Spathofe  iron 

158 

Tabular  fpar 

14 

Sphen* 

170 

Tak 

45 

Spioelle  ruby 

85 

indurated 

46 

blue 

53  81 

fcaly 

49 

xincifcfous 

79 

Venetian 

46 

Spincllane 

68 

Tantalite 

173 

.Splent  coal 

241  TANTALIUJfl 

TELLURIUM 

207  Vitriol,  gree* 

Tellurium,  native 

207 

red 

graphic 

208 

Volcanic  glafe 

plumbiferoaa 

loft 

fulphut 

TERMS,  explanation  of 

xxvi 

Terra  figillata 

23 

Wacke 

Thallfte 

27 

WAT£R 

Thumerftone 

Wavellite 

TIN 

164 

Welch  culm 

oxide  6f 

165 

Wernerite 

pyrites 
fulphuret  eC 

166 
166 

WhetHate 
Whin-ftone 

wood 

166 

White  antimony 

Titanite 

169 

copper 

TITANIUM 

168 

manganefe 

Toadftone 

69 

filvef 

Topaz 

83 

Wither  ite 

oriental 

Wolfram 

rock 

84 

Wood  opal 

Touchftone 

7' 

ftone 

Tourmalines 

tin 

Tremolite 

32 

Triphane 

47 

Yellow  bole 

Triple  fulphuret  of  lead: 

214 

copper 

Tripoli 

22 

Yenite 

Trona 

139 

YTTRIA 

Tufa 

102 

Yttrotantalitte 

TUNGSTEN 

I67 

YTTRIUM 

Tungftate  of  iron 

167 

lime 

l67 

Zeolite,  cubic 

Turquoiffe 

197 

ZINC 

carbonate  of 

URANIUM 

172 

fulphate 

Uranite 

162 

fulphuret 

Uran-ochre 

173 

Zinciferous  fpinelle 

ZIRCON 

Verd  antique 

97 

Zirconite 

Vefuvian 

20 

ZIRCONIUM 

Violet  fchorl  of  Danphine 

30 

Zoyfite 

Vitreous  filver 

186 

18* 
51 

229 

69 
ix 


67 

aio 
194 
i6z 
187 
130 


6? 

166 

23 
194 

14 
ia8 

374 


54 


79 
123 

124 

123 

19 


FINIS. 


BOCKS 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINERALOGY, 

FOR  SALE  BY 

COLLINS  &  Co. 

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JAMESON'S  Complete  System  of  Mineralogy,  in  3  Yols. 
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JAMESON'S  Treatise  on  the  External,  Chemical  and  Phy- 
sical characters  of  Minerals,  8vo  Edin. 

KIDD'S  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  2  vols.  8vo<Oxford. 

KIR  WAN'S  Elements  of  Mineralogy,  3d  edition,  J2  vols. 
8vo  London. 

MAWE'S  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  Minerals,  intended  for 
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CLEAVELAND'S  Elementary  Treatise  on  Mineralogy 
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MAWE'S  Treatise  on  Diamonds  and  precious  Stones,  in- 
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are  added,  the  best  method  of  cutting  and  polishing 
them,  2nd  edition. 

WILLIAMS'S  Natural  History  of  the  Mineral  Kingdom,  re- 
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ing strata  of  the  Globe,  2d  Edition,  with  an  appendix  by 
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BRANDE'S  Outlines  of  Geology,  London,  8vo. 

ACCUM'S  Elements  of  Crystallography  after  the  method 
of  Haiiy,  with  or  without  series  of  Geometrical  models, 
with  Engravings,  8vo  London. 

MACLURE'S  Observations  on  the  Geology  of  the  United 
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CUVIER'S  Essay  on  the  Theory  of  the  Earth,  with  mine- 
ralogical  notes  by  Professor  Jameson,  to  which  are  added 
observations  on  the  Geology  of  North  America,  by  Samuel 
L.  Mitchill,  New- York,  1818. 

BLACK'S  Travels,  through  Norway  and  Lapland,  with 
mineralogical  notes  by  Professor  Jameson,  4to  London 

AlKlNS'  Manual  of  Mineralogy,  12mo  Phila. 

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